Debbie W. Wilson

Refreshing Faith

Is Self-Confidence Over Rated?

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What do Moses, Gideon, and Jeremiah have in common? Did you know that all of these mighty men of faith struggled with self-doubt when God commissioned them? If success depended on self-confidence, these men would have failed. Self-confidence feels good, but is it over-rated?

What do we do when we find ourselves drowning in a pool of inadequacy?

Ask for help:

Challenges don’t have to be momentous to bring out our weaknesses. I rode to a party with someone who said she was directionally challenged. “My friend told me to learn to trust myself and to quit relying on my GPS,” she said. Her friend, no doubt, had a natural sense of direction. After it was past the time we should have arrived, she called someone to check her course. She discovered we were headed in the opposite direction of where we wanted to go. I was glad to know I’m not the only one who does that!

Paul, writing in regard to spiritual gifts, said: “3Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,Continue Reading

A Pinch of Courage Makes Life More Fun

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When I was a child, I rode my bicycle over the flat neighborhoods of Savannah, Georgia. I was Annie Oakley on my faithful horse. My girlfriend and I cycled together to ballet classes that ended at dusk. On the way home, we sped past a house shrouded with hanging moss. We were sure it was haunted. We’d both spotted a ghostlike flicker in the window!

Overcoming childhood imaginary villains was exciting, but facing real ones as an adult is a bother. This week I thought about the characters I like to pull for in books. They show strength in adversity. Ones that crumble over small things get on my nerves. That made me wonder: Would I pull for myself if I were in a book?Continue Reading

Facing Our Fears to Follow His Call

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An unwelcome tremor raced through my knees as I climbed the carved mahogany steps to the suspended pulpit.

I’d joined a ministry that required their staff to raise their funds. I’d told God I was willing to talk to every person in my church—individually—but not all at once. I dreaded public speaking, especially here.

With the date to leave for my Boston assignment only two weeks away, I’d raised only half the financial support I needed and was out of options. Desperate, I uttered a silent prayer: Lord, show me what to do. I’ll do anything You say.

I returned home that afternoon to a note, “Call Reverend…” My stomach flipped as I remembered my morning prayer. When I called, sure enough, my minister wanted me to speak in the Sunday morning service.Continue Reading

Staying Strong

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I woke up feeling discouraged. Weeks of physical therapy were helping me get my mobility back when bam, I re-injured my knee and pulled my sacroiliac joint out of line. Two weeks after starting over in my therapy and hours of traveling back and forth and doing exercises, I was still painfully limping around. I’m going quit this, I decided. That’s when the Lord reminded me of Proverbs 24:10: “If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited” (NASB).

I looked up the verse and learned the Greek word for “slack” is raphah. It means “to sink, relax, let drop, be disheartened.1” Wow. If I become disheartened or discouraged in trying times, my strength will be limited when I need it the most.Continue Reading

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