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Can I? Is it even possible? Do I have what it takes?
An opportunity presents itself. You’ve thought about it, prayed about it, and said yes. Then the questions begin circulating, and you begin to wonder:
Wait, I can’t do this. What was I thinking? Why did I agree to this? How is this ever going to work out?
Let me introduce you to another acquaintance of mine. Perhaps you know them too:
Meet the Voice of Self-Doubt
Self-doubt is that persistent inner voice that questions whether we can handle what’s in front of us. Have you heard this voice? I certainly have. Lately, I’ve heard it more often. It seems to move in cycles. It’s quiet for a while, and we may even forget it is there. Then it emerges from some hidden recess, and it begins whispering uncertainty, concern, distrust, and disbelief.
Before long, that inner voice has convinced us to question ourselves.
You Do Know You’ve Been Called, Right?
Do you know that God has a particular call for each of us? He invites us to work with Him in a given season, in a specific place, and among a particular people. God invites us into His work not because He needs us, but because He wants us. How gracious is that?
What He calls us to do may also change over time. You may be raising children, volunteering at their school, or homeschooling. Perhaps you work and help form the next generation of leaders in your company. You may be a doctor, nurse, or social worker caring for people in vulnerable moments. Maybe you make a point of smiling and saying hello to everyone you pass on your morning walk.
Callings are large and small, noticeable and hidden. Mother Teresa’s calling was visible to the world. But if you sort donations at a local thrift shop, stock a food pantry, or sweep the halls of a school, your call and your faithfulness are no less important to God.
What Self-Doubt Wants You to Believe
Here is what self-doubt will do, regardless of how visible or hidden your calling may be:
It will tell you no one will notice.
No one will be interested.
Your contribution is insignificant.
No one will read what you write or listen to what you say.
It will tell you that you aren’t really very good at what you do, and that if you stopped, no one would even care.
Self-doubt tries to convince us that we can’t or that it doesn’t matter.
What Lies Beneath the Doubt?
We all experience doubt at one time or another. After all, we are human. There is value in honestly considering our limitations and discerning what God is and is not asking of us. But perhaps this is also a good time to pause and ask the Lord to help us identify where our doubts are coming from. What lies beneath our self-doubt?
Did we have a painful experience in the past?
Are we measuring ourselves against someone else?
Are we looking for worldly affirmation?
Has an old lie, like “I’m not good enough” or “I’m going to fail,” resurface?
Recognizing this is a good thing, because God often begins His healing work when we are willing to bring what has been hidden into His light. Left in the dark, those lies can prevent us from moving forward.
Bring Doubt Into Prayer
Rather than letting doubt ruminate or immediately pushing it away, what if we brought it to prayer?
Lord, why am I so afraid of this?
What am I believing about myself right now?
Where did I first begin to believe this?
Is there something here You want to heal?
And then, perhaps, the most important question:
Lord, what do You say is true?
This might be a good place to stop, pull out your journal, and begin writing. I am always fascinated by the words that find their way onto the page when I open my heart to the Lord in prayer. We can invite Jesus into the places where fear, disappointment, criticism, comparison, or failure have shaped how we see ourselves. We can ask Him to reveal the lies we have accepted and replace them with His truth of who we are.
We do not necessarily overcome self-doubt by becoming more confident in ourselves. Instead, we create space to look honestly within our hearts and bring forward the wounds and lies that have taken root there. Once they are revealed, the Lord can speak His truth. And as Scripture reminds us: the truth sets us free!
A Voice Above the Noise
Not long ago, I was preparing to give a talk. As I reviewed my notes the night before, self-doubt bombarded me. I could have filled an entire page with everything the inner voice was saying. Suddenly, I put down my notes and began to pray. I asked the Lord for help.
Then I heard Him whisper, a gentle voice rising above all the noise of self-doubt and criticism:
This talk is not about performing. It is about bringing My presence.
I knew who had spoken, and I knew those words were true. Peace settled over my mind and spirit. I remembered that sharing what the Lord had been teaching me and what He had placed on my heart was not about performing or giving the perfect talk. This was about bringing the Lord’s presence to others.
We bring His presence when we trust Him more than we trust the voice of our own inadequacy. We bring His presence when we know that our confidence rests in Him, not in ourselves. We bring His presence when we are willing to get out of the way and allow Him to work through us.
Confidence in the One Who Calls
What matters is trusting the God who has called us. He does not call us because we are experts, exceptional, or able to accomplish everything perfectly. He calls us because He loves us, and He asks us to co-labor with Him.
Being willing does not mean we have it all together or all the answers. It simply means taking the next faithful step, trusting that God will meet us there.
Why can we trust Him? Because goodness is central to who He is.
Our abilities may feel inadequate. Our confidence may waver. But His goodness is always enough.
For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100:5)
