There are days when my spirit soars, others when I feel weighed down. I have come to realize that many of my low days come from self-doubt and self-sabotage. Recently, I have became aware of my negative thoughts, even in moments of prayer and solitude. But those thoughts are not my thoughts but whispers from the enemy, seeking to manipulate my mind, straying me away from God. Currently, I am reading the book “Battlefield of the Mind” by Joyce Meyer, and one of the chapters has a short story where a man asked God for revelation, God showed him himself in the spirit realm praying, and behind him was the enemy lurking, speaking self-doubt and negativity into his mind and saying that he was not good enough and he should stop praying because God wasn’t listening and that praying wouldn’t make his life better.
Reading this made me think about what self-doubt is and how it is not a reflection of our true selves, but the enemy placing doubt into our minds clouding the vision of our goals, future, and what God has in store for us. So self-doubt doesn’t exist, praying on this made me realize that when I doubt myself I doubt the plans that God has for me, and not trusting what God will do for me can be done. As social beings, we are constantly thinking of the what if this doesn’t work or what if this isn’t meant for us but that’s self-doubt, distractions woven by the enemy to lead us astray. I have learned that once I surrender my concerns to prayer, I must release the burden of worry. To continue to worry is to demonstrate a lack of faith in God’s ability to guide me and support me.
We try to take the pin and paper out of God’s hands and write the lines ourselves (Psalm 16:6). But we can’t because God knows us, he knows our hearts and what we need in any particular moment even if it differs from our desires. Understanding this has allowed me to strengthen my faith in God and the plans that he has for me. I am learning to trust in His timing and wisdom, reminding myself that every moment of surrender brings me closer to God.
I love this post! I definitely agree that self-doubt isn’t a true reflection of our true self but instead a reflection of the enemy. It’s important to remember that self-doubt and self-sabotage can be crippling. I’ve found that listening to the self doubt can slow your process of growth down or even derail you. I feel like I struggle with imposter syndrome and your post has led me to think that maybe the thoughts of “ I’m not capable” or “ I’ve gotten this far but..etc that I often speak or think aren’t my thoughts but the enemy. I have to be confident in Gods ability to bless me, keep me and walk with me. Again, I loved your post and look forward to the next one! xoxo
This excerpt is exactly what I needed to boost my own confidence and build up my mental fortitude. Self doubt in and of itself is what I think plagues the world right now (along side with social media) causing a mass identity crisis. Self doubt is destructive and causes many humans to not embrace and bloom as the unique and beautiful individual flower that we all are. The use and mention of social media ties into my think piece because I feel as if it just makes all of us get on one accord and become bland, stunting and diminishing our imagination and once you plague the mind of one individual the rest will spread like wild fire. Furthermore I believe that self doubt is from the enemy. One may ask what enemy? In the physical world of the flesh or spiritual world we all have enemies. (Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”) Self doubt comes from within but I firmly believe we are not born with it. I wholeheartedly believe self doubt is placed within us by other people (think back to when you were a little child and someone asked what you wanted to be when you grew up? Many of us said loudly , proudly, and firmly “I want to be a doctor “ “I want to be a lawyer”, “I want to be an astronaut “, I want to be the president “, or something along the lines of that and we wholeheartedly believed that too!) because they failed themselves and now , like the crabs in the barrel idiom they do not want you to succeed or do if they do want you to succeed and reach new heights, that do not want you to ever reach as high or if not higher than them, but little do they know, your faith and self confidence may be as small, but just as a mustard seed. It will blossom into something unique and beautiful.
Some of my favorite bible verses to leave you all with that helps me with self doubt:
Isaiah 41:10:“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
John 15:4: “ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
I love this blog post. I am excited for the next one. Keep up the good work Ms.Alexis!