Often my voice feels so timid as I write, still sometimes repressed from insecurity and past abuse. Whether writing blog posts, answering comments, or posting comments on other’s blogs, insecurity stabs against my intuition. Or shame attacks and backs me in a corner of dirty and damaged trash.
I sometimes struggle with whether I even have a right to speak of spiritual matters. Past religious training, actually spiritual abuse, drilled it into me that it’s the ministers and the elders that can interpret Scripture. Woe unto us if we doubted their interpretations. If a niggling of a doubt rose up in me, I felt I had sinned against God. I still get these promptings – “Who are you to interpret what God’s Word means?” This still influences me and I easily think my voice doesn’t matter, especially when it comes to writing about God and His promises. But God can personally give each of us light and understanding to interpret His Word. He is not bound by whether we are pastors or teachers in a visible church. His Spirit can fill any one of us with promises of hope, healing, and freedom to pass on to others.
Any kind of abuse has a huge impact on what we think of ourselves. Verbal abuse alone can cripple our thinking. My insecurity prompts me to question my writing even though I have prayed that God would give me the words. Even when I answer comments or write comments at other blogs, I too easily compare myself with others. I start thinking others have much more creative words, or they are much more eloquent than I am. But going down the comparison road is a slippery slope where we no longer see ourselves as a unique and beautiful masterpiece of God Himself with a unique voice to offer to others.
As I step by step learn to place my identity in Jesus, I am emboldened to share my God-given voice. Because in Him, our voices matter, every single thought, word, and feeling. Sometimes when insecurity, shame, and fear devastate my heart and render me speechless, when I’m writing a post, when I’m ready to delete a comment I make, or when I want to change an answer I give, I am stopped by God’s whisper:
Listen to your heart, My child.
Your voice matters.
You don’t have to be eloquent.
Just use the voice that I have given you.
The words in your heart matter.
I can set your repressed voice free.
I make even the weakest of voices strong in My love.
Listen to your heart, My child.
He whispers these words to you, too. Listen to your heart, my dear reader. Whether you write or speak little or much in this vast world of need, take heart in knowing your voice matters. Your words count, each and every one. And filled with Jesus and His love, each of them will find some home somewhere in this world.
“Art means believing that the God
who created the world with words alone
creates with words still, through us
— whether it be on a stage to thousands
or in a corner with one.”
~ Emily Freeman in A Million Little Ways
Each of you is a masterpiece in God’s eyes, and He can give you words to write or say, no matter how weak and intimidated you feel. One word spoken in the name of Jesus in the darkest little corner of this world can build like a snowball rolling down a mountain and make a positive difference you’ll never know on this side of eternity.
So, my dear friend, open your heart and allow God to speak through you. Stomp on the devil who tries to stop you, and fling out your voice to all around you. Just let the real you speak out those words that are stuffed down in your heart because of past influences. Your voice and your story matter!
“Glorious Unfolding” by Steven Curtis Chapman
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Bonnie – Faith Barista’s Beloved Brews
Freed to Fly 
Amen!! I can totally relate to all that you are saying here. Wounds of abuse cause us to doubt ourselves… but God! He speaks to each of us in different ways and He guides us as we trust in Him. Thanks for sharing this. God bless you!
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Hi Secret Angel. I’m glad you can relate, though I’m not happy at all of why you can relate. I’m sorry for all you’ve been through. “But God!” I love that! He is far more powerful than all the past! God bless you, too! 💗
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Amen… Yes, He is!! There is nothing that He can’t do. God bless you!!
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Trudy,
Yes…keep listening to God’s voice and Spirit speaking truth and telling you that your voice matters…You’re special and loved of God and us, your fellow sisters in Christ…so please keep writing and sharing your voice and your story 🙂
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Hi Dolly. Thank you for your kind encouragement. I can say the same for you! I am enjoying your “renew” series. 🙂 God bless you and the words He gives you for His glory! 💗
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Hi Trudy! Oh my goodness, what a powerful post. I think this is one of your best. Your honesty unlocks all of our hidden insecurities. I think so many writers feel the same way; unable, not enough. That prayer was so dead on. No matter what voice you’ve been given, it’s meant to be shared. Numbers don’t matter.
I love this encouragement! Please keep writing, keep inspiring. I think God has much more to say through you.
Blessings,
Ceil
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Thank you, Ceil, for this powerful encouragement. It’s amazing how something that was hard to write can be powerful to someone else. I love how you say honesty unlocks hidden insecurities. If I can reach one who is hurting, then the sweat of being vulnerable is worth it. The more I travel cyberspace, the more I see insecurity’s devastation, and I long that each one may see what a masterpiece they are in God’s eyes. I believe God has much to say through your writing, too, Ceil! 💗
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Dear Trudy, this post had me awed and amazed in a way I have rarely been before. In following and reading your blog I find all your words affect me tremendously, but this stands alone as particularly powerful. In sharing so honestly and deeply you speak for all of us who feel weak, inadequate or unworthy. Your God-given words have great power to impact lives with the glorious Truth He has to offer all hurting people.
It’s very hard to select any one phrase above another here, but I think maybe these words have touched me most:”Whether you write or speak little or much in this vast world of need, take heart in knowing your voice matters. Your words count, each and every one. And filled with Jesus and His love, each of them will find some home somewhere in this world.” Thank you so much for sharing your story and being such a wonderful advocate and encourager for others as you do so. Blessings and love. xox 🙂
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Thank you so much for your supportive words, Joy. I am so humbled that you were affected. I am glad I followed what God’s voice in my heart told me to write. His power in us is far greater than all the insecurities in the world, right? I know your words definitely find a home in my heart even though we live so far apart. Isn’t God amazing?! Blessings and love to you, too, my friend! 💗
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I can so relate to you, Trudy, as always :)! I have so much insecurity about my writing. My husband always knows when I’ve just posted something because I get really nervous and anxious. You are a wonderful writer and I’m so thankful to be connected with you. Thank you for this much needed encouragement!
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I’m so glad you are encouraged, Candace. Thank you for your encouragement as well. It’s a scary thing to post our writing for all the world to see, isn’t it? You may get anxious about it, but there are so many who enjoy your writing, including myself. 🙂 God bless you and give you peace as you write to His glory! 💗
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Hi Trudy,
Another encouraging post from you! You reach out your arms across this wide internet, connecting with those you’d never have the chance to meet in real-life and yes, your words matter hugely! I often think my words don’t matter too, but being able to join our thoughts through our blogs means so much to me. Love these words today!
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Thank you, Valerie. I’m so glad it encouraged you. Your words matter, too! Satan tries hard to discourage us, but Jesus has already gained the victory over him! I’m glad we are on this journey together. 🙂 God bless you with freedom to let the words flow! 💗
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Hi Trudy!
We met on the Rest site a while ago. I’ve been reading posts you’ve written ever since & praying for you. Todays post is very poignant for many of us, who either have struggled in similar ways & our God has brought us to a more peaceful accepting place, or those of us who are still in the process of sorting it all out. Either way, we all need the encouragement that your words & heart bring to us. Thank You, dear sister, and please continue to bless us as you share with us. You are loved. Donna
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Thank you for your kind words and prayers, Donna. Yes, it can be a struggle sometimes as we seek to shut out the negative voices and find our identity more and more in Jesus. You are loved, too! May God bless you! 💗
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Trudi, thanks so much for this! It really spoke to me- I need this kind of message and strength in my ear each day ! I can get so battled down by the enemy and have struggle with this the last few day!
thanks for encouraging me to press on, speak out and acknowledge my own unique voice and for sharing yours! 🙂
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I’m so glad it encouraged you to press on, speak out and acknowledge your unique voice, Susie. Your poems comfort my heart. May you have strength through Christ Jesus to defeat that old enemy! 💗
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I hate when I catch myself thinking that way! It is always good to see I am not alone in it 🙂
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Me, too, Sarah. Don’t you just wish our automatic default mode was who we are in Jesus? It’s a learning process for sure. Hopefully as we more and more learn to replace the negative with God’s truth, we won’t catch ourselves thinking that way as much. May we encourage each other to remember how unique and special we are in Jesus! 💗
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You are not alone, you are surrounded by many who feel the same. But know this, your words and the expression of your heart is vital to the growth of those around you. I love your listening heart, I love that you hear from Jesus and journal His words spoken to your heart! I know you are pursued by the Lord for He loves that you love to listen and wait for His words to come to you. I bless you in your listening and your waiting and thank Him for the soaring you will do!
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Thank you for your warm encouragement, Jeannie. I do long to be as Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to Him. May you also be blessed as you wait at His feet! 💗
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You are so right, Trudy – your voice – our voices together do matter and they make a difference to the Lord. I know well those insecurities – the lies the enemy whispers – that tell us that it’s not our place or position, but when the words are spoken for Christ – how beautiful they are! Thank you for sharing yours. Blessings from a neighbor at #tellhisstory.
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Thank you, Tiffany. Yes, that enemy is strong, but Christ has conquered! He will help us to keep drinking in the Truth and spewing out the lies. Blessings to you, too! Thanks for stopping in. 💗
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Love this! I struggle with doubt because of the abuse I suffered. So hard to overcome.
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I’m so sorry you suffered abuse, Debbie. I know by experience how hard it is to overcome. It’s a lifelong process to learn to place our identity in Christ rather than in what abuse makes us feel. Jesus cries for you and pleads with you to embrace your identity in Him. You are so special, precious, and honored in His sight. You matter so very, very much! May He hold you so close to His heart that you feel the rhythm of His unfailing love and favor for you! 💗
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Yes, amen thank you! God is amazing. He values each of us lovingly. I’m praying that my full voice will honor and glorify Him. His will be done. 🙏 God bless you!
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Hi Cookies. 🙂 Yes, God is so amazing. Praying with you that our “full voice will honor and glorify Him.” God bless you, too! Thank so much for visiting. 💗
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Trudy, I am so thankful for you–for your voice, for your courage, for your faith! Bless you, dear sister! Keep writing!
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Thank you so much for your encouragement, Jennifer. I am so thankful for you and God’s work through you, too. I love Loop and the Gather Ministries blog. They’re like an oasis when my heart is fainting. Bless you, too, sister in Christ! ❤️
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Yes, Trudy, our voice must proclaim the glory of the Lord. He gave it to us for a reason! Cheering you. Keep going strong in Christ Jesus!
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Thank you, Kelly, for cheering me on to be strong in Christ Jesus. 🙂 ❤️
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