Flip the Flow - Finding Truth in God's WordSample

From Shy to Confident

When I was in school, I was known as the chubby little girl who would be the first out on any sports team, the last in any race, or the slowest of the group. I was the student that everyone picked on. I never confronted anyone about anything.

During elementary school, my number one fear was being called to go to the blackboard and show my work on a math problem or being first to give a speech in class, or reading in the 8th grade with some kind of dumb machine that forced you to read fast.

However, today I can read well, I love learning new words, calculating some math problems in my head, and offering to pray out loud or talk first.

It’s interesting how my script has flipped over the years to go from a shy little girl to a confident former DJ on a worldwide Christian radio station and published author. Many of my friends don’t know that I used to be considered an introvert and felt like a wallflower in large groups. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be writing devotionals that would be shared worldwide.

As an adult, I knew I needed confidence, but I didn’t know how to gain it until I read

Jeremiah 17:7, But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

This one verse flipped the flow to align with God’s truth. If I truly trust God, gaining His confidence was included in growing in faith. I realized that no matter what people said about me or thought about my inabilities, personality, inadequacies, failures, or shortcomings, I could be confident because I trust in the Lord.

I also learned that everything He allows in my life—even the most challenging situations—has a purpose: preparing me to become more like His Son (Romans 8:29).

As we apply this understanding daily, we can look at fears and insecurities differently. We can be freed from anxiety, fear, timidity, and shame.

We can be confident knowing that God is refining our faith to include His kind of boldness, bravery, and courage to accomplish any task or challenge. Believing this truth gives us the strength and confidence to do all He calls us to and to continue to grow in our faith and discipleship.

What are these verses saying to you?