29. Have You Heard That Voice Too: The One That Says You're Stupid?
Why Owning My Weaknesses Became the Key to Healing
There was a time when the loudest voice in my life wasn’t from someone else,
it was from within.
It was that voice of shame, the one many of us know all too well.
The inner critic that sneers,
"You’re not enough."
After years of being shamed as a child,
that voice followed me into adulthood.
Every mistake, every failure, every moment of weakness—it was there.
Telling me I was dumb.
A failure.
Unworthy.
Maybe you’ve heard that voice too.
The one that tries to define you by what you’ve done
instead of what God has done for you.
I thought there were only a few others in that struggle.
But when I created a survey for a presentation on our identity in Christ,
I was shocked.
Almost every single person admitted to having the same voice of self-condemnation.
The Accuser tries to define us by shame,
but our Savior defines us by His grace and His love.
If your heart has ever been heavy with regret,
then come close.
This part of the story is for you.
For me, the turning point began
when I started speaking the truth of Scripture back to that voice.
Verses like Romans 8:1 became my armor.
I repeated them until the condemning voice started to fade.
It took time.
Perseverance.
But day by day,
truth began to drown out shame.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
~Romans 8:1
And then, something unexpected happened.
I learned the power of praise.
After repenting,
I started thanking Abba not only for His forgiveness,
but for my faults too.
Yes, you read that right.
I thanked Him for the very weaknesses that once filled me with shame.
Why?
Because I came to believe He allowed them for my good.
They keep me humble.
They keep me leaning on Him.
They make me more compassionate.
And they magnify His mercy.
What if the very thing we’ve been hiding in shame
is the very place He wants to reveal His grace?
It’s strange, isn’t it?
That something like thanking God for our flaws could bring freedom.
But it did.
It broke the cycle.
The shame that once shut down my joy
lost its grip
when I stepped into the light of gratitude.
Shame wants to trap us in a vicious cycle.
We sin,
then we feel guilt,
then we spiral.
But Jesus didn’t die for us to live in that prison.
He came to set us free.
But if we confess our sins to Him,
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
~1 John 1:9 NLT
I used to be ashamed of my flaws.
But now I realize,
owning them and thanking God for using them in my life
is the very thing that robs shame of its power.
Conviction brings change.
But shame only brings chains.
Maybe your story has had a moment like mine,
the kind that leaves you feeling like you’ve taken
two steps forward and three steps back.
I’ll never forget the day I overdid it.
Excited about my healing,
I ate too much, too fast.
And the next day, my body crashed.
I tried to stay positive,
but I couldn’t shake the disappointment.
I finally asked Abba what it was.
He showed me.
Underneath it all,
I wasn’t trusting that even this setback could be used for my good.
So I thanked Him for my disappointment.
I thanked Him for my lack of self-control.
And then, He met me with mercy.
The heaviness lifted.
Joy returned.
And even my healing got back on track
faster than I expected.
Within days,
I was able to eat again in moderation.
The enemy has no weapon against praise.
So instead of hiding from our struggles,
let’s bring them into the light.
Let’s hand them to the One who transforms them,
the One who meets us in every ache.
Rather than retreat,
let’s invite God in with praise.
We can thank Him not only for what’s going right,
but even for the things we wish were different.
There’s freedom there.
Will you take that step with me?
🎵 Your Turn to Praise
Thank You, Abba,
that there is no condemnation for those who belong to Your Son.
Thank You for the freedom You offer through truth and through praise.
Thank You for taking even the parts of my story that once made me hang my head
and using them to reveal Your mercy.
Thank You for the grace to learn how to praise You
for the very things I once tried to hide.
Thank You for shining light where shame once ruled,
and for breaking every chain with Your love.
Thank You for meeting me there.
In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My heart is confident in You, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing Your praises!
~Psalm 57:7
Shame thrives in silence. But praise? It breaks through.
If this resonated with you, would you pass it along?
You never know who needs the courage to lift their hands today.
This Poll Is Anonymous and I Value Your Opinion :)
The Mission
I believe God has given me a beautiful and humbling assignment: to write a book about the power of praise, how it prepares the way for His miracles in our everyday lives.
This book won’t be mine alone. It’s a shared offering, a woven collection of real stories that reveal just how deeply God meets us when we choose to praise Him, even in the hardest moments.
With each testimony I share, you’ll find a simple survey where you can cast your vote: should this story be included in the book? I’d love to know what speaks to your heart.
And I’d be so honored to hear from you. Have a question or a thought? Feel free to leave a comment or message me directly. And if you have a praise testimony of your own, I’d love to read it! Your story could be the one that brings someone else the hope they’ve been waiting for.
Let’s build this book together, for His glory and for the encouragement of our Brothers and Sisters around the world.
Because when we praise Him, we shine light into dark places. And when we share that light, it multiplies.
Let’s give the world more hope. One testimony at a time.
This really blessed me. Thank you.
Oops. In my response I referred to this writer as “he”, but I think it is “she”. Sorry, sister Substack writer!