Lisa-Jo Baker
About the Author

Lisa-Jo is the best-selling author of Never Unfriended and Surprised by Motherhood. Her newest book, The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra)Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You invites us to get a good look at our middles and gives us permission to embrace them.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Beautiful post. 1. I have believed that I am loved less than everyone else. 2. I know that Jesus reminds me over and over again that His love knows no favoritism 🙂

  2. Thank you for this challenge! I need to do this every day!
    1) I have believed the lie that in order to be loved I have to please others (to win their approval and/or acceptance.)
    2) The truth is that God loves me with no strings attached. His love is unconditional and everlasting. Other people’s opinions about me, do not matter.
    Thank you, God for your amazing, unconditional, unbeatable love!

  3. This is inspiring.
    1. I have believed that no matter how hard I push myself, no matter how much I do; I will never be enough. And that I will never catch up to being more than my failures.
    2. I know that there is no prerequisite for the love of God. That His love is far more than the failures and the attempts to be enough. I know that to Him, I am enough. And how humbling and relieving that is!

  4. The lie I buy into is that I am inadequate. That I disappoint God and others. I have an anxiety disorder that makes me feel very “less than enough”.
    The truth is that I am enough because God sees me through the blood of Christ. I can’t disappoint Him. As for disappointing others…I need to live my life to an audience of One. Though I feel week from the ocd, I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. Thank you Lord… I praise you!

    • Oh sweet Bev – I can’t imagine you ever disappointing anyone – you’re SUCH an encouragement to so many of us! SO grateful for your voice here at (in)courage.

    • Bev, you are not alone. I always had an anxiety disorder that I now manage with meds, and found out I have low grade bipolar a few years ago.
      Other believers can go on a mind trick because we just need to pray more, etc. I’m going to start praying for a look to give them when they go there.. Seriously.

      • Webbgurl,
        I’m laughing my behind off!!! I love that pious look that comes right before the words, “Well maybe if you prayed more or harder you wouldn’t have that anxiety.” Praying for us both and PLEASE send me a picture of “the look” to give when they go there!! You made my day!! xx

        • Will do, Bev.” There must be a Christian side eye giphy for ignorant comments that are made to hurting believers.

  5. This is so good for today….and my early morning thoughts….
    1. I have believed that my thoughts and words are usually wrong and in most situations it is ME who needs to change.
    2. I know God made me to be me. He has a plan for me and he loves me just the way I am.

  6. I have believed that I’m not the real deal. That somehow I am fooling myself into believing that I have been saved. I know that Jesus said I am His. That if I believe and confess, that I am His. No one can pluck my from His hand. Not even myself.

  7. 1.) An older woman told me that I was a stage hog.
    2.) Jesus told me that I am His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which He chose for me way before I was born.
    Sometimes introverts and extroverts have a hard time understanding each other. Hmm…it’s a co-op, not a competition. Thank you for that!

    • Wow. Why can’t people work together? I agree. That way there’s no need for jealousy

  8. I have believed that I am not enough…not womanly enough, not smart enough, not strong enough.
    I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made by my Father who loves me. I am enough for Him to see and love me.

  9. I am so grateful for this this morning-to know I am not alone. 1) I have believed the lie that I have to be as others want me to be to not be hurt and to be loved and accepted. 2) Abba loves me as He made me to be and I have to seek His approval, being grateful for how He made me, really believing that He loves me. I still have to listen to what others say, but I don’t have to believe it right off. Ecclesiastes 7:21 God is so good 🙂

  10. I have always believed that I have little or no value. Jesus counters that by telling me I am loved; He created me and gifted me just as I am and it is enough

  11. Nice post. 1. I have lived with the lie that the people i love have left and will leave me because i am unlovable. 2. I know that God will never leave me and He loves me deeply to the point of giving His only Son. :’)

  12. That was amazing! I have even named the mean girl in my head…I call her the Duchess (think Angelica Huston in Ever After) Anywhooo….the lie that I struggle with is that I am unlovable and have no worth, which can create a huge case of the need to please. We all know this is a losing game that just makes things worse. The Truth that I am trying and choosing to believe is very simple…I.Am.Loved! He is Sovereign, He is good, and everything He does is beautiful! Including me.

      • Oh…I do! And she’s NOT a nice kid!! 😉 Amen to what you said! I am learning. Yay for me!

  13. The lie I believe is I’m not enough.

    The truth is I’m loved exactly the way I am

  14. The lie is I am not enough and unworthy. The truth is I am a child of God and His plan completes me. I have His unfailing love and infinite grace always.

  15. The lie is that I am unlovable.
    The truth is that Jesus died for me and loves me and I am His child.

  16. 1. The lie: I am invisible, not seen, that I have no voice. 2. The Truth: He has called me. He has gifted me. I have a message..

  17. Thank you for this post. Wonderful! The lie is, “I try so hard but it’s never enough.” The truth is I don’t have to try, Jesus already did it all. He is enough.

  18. Fantastic post! I believed my prayers weren’t answered but found out they were.

  19. Thank you for this.
    1. I have believed that I don’t have what it takes to lead and serve and love adequately the people God has put in my path.
    2. The truth is that I have been called, equipped, gifted, and impassioned to do exactly what God has me doing right now– loving and leading my family, and loving and leading the women He has put in my life.

  20. The lie I was told was that the wrongdoings of others were my fault. So I have grown to believe that when people in my immediate circle fail, falter, struggle, whatever..it’s my fault, and something I could have done better would have prevented it. The truth is that we are all only responsible for ourselves, and even if we falter and fail and struggle, our heavenly Father still loves us, and is there to help us back up. <3

  21. Lisa-Jo,

    As always your writing is spot on!! Loved the title and blog!! When I make mistakes, mess up or fail at something I hear and believe these lies: “I must be stupid, dumb, not smart, ugly”. The devil wants to see us upset and down on ourselves.
    Truth is I am made in the image of Almighty God. He wouldn’t make an ugly or stupid person in His own image!! Psalms 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
    I am loved by Jesus Christ who died a horrific death for me. He loves me and I am a beautiful Child of His!!
    Blessings 🙂

    • Oh Beth I struggle with similar lies and mean voices in my head. And like you I’m so grateful for God’s 100% guarantee that we’re been made marvelous and perfectly in His image.

  22. Thank you. The lie: I am never good enough. The truth: Jesus loves me unconditionally. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.

  23. 1. I have believed (and sadly still believe sometimes) that I am someone God has decided to reject.

    2. I know that he does by reject anyone who comes to him. (John 6:37)

    • Oh Ana, yes when I think of how Jesus walked into that dark night of betrayal on purpose so that none of us would ever need to feel rejected – what a gift to each of our tender hearts. To know what priceless value we have to Him.

  24. I have believed that someone else’s increase means my decrease. The truth is, God is NOT holding out on me!

  25. Wow. Needed this.
    1. I have believed the lie that my worth lies in my ability to juggle all the “balls” in life without dropping any or disappointing anyone… and that the need to do that drowns out the voice of God’s grace in my life in the present, so that Jesus isn’t one of the people I’m trying to please. 🙁
    2. The truth is that eternity does matter now, and that the grace of God is greater than all my sins and shortcomings.

  26. I needed to hear this! I’m always thinking how alone I am but now I need to think how the Lord is with me all the time n my life matters to Him more than I realize.

  27. The lie, that “I can’t”, There are so many things pressing in on me these days and I feel that I can’t do anything about it, I can’t make it better, I can’t take anymore. The truth, God speaks to me in my heart and tells me “I have created you for this moment in time.”

  28. 1. Now retired for almost five years, I have to fight against the lie that I’m past my prime and not as valuable as younger folks. 2. The truth is, scripture and church history are full of folks who continued to serve God, even as “senior citizens.” Praise God we never outlive purpose in his kingdom!

  29. I have believed for too long that I am not enough and that happiness eluded me because of it.
    BUT GOD…He reminds me that happiness is a feeling and feelings are fleeting. However, JOY is a choice. Joy is a fruit of the spirit that is in me because of the Spirit of the living God that resides in my heart. I can choose to linger in His joy. I know now that Joy remains regardless of circumstance-unlike happiness.

  30. I have believed the lies that I am still not enough, my voice is not powerful enough.
    The truth is I am a child of God, a daughter of the king with the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living in me, empowering my voice, making me enough as I am.
    Beautiful post. to ponder….

  31. Lie: I am incompetent to care for my family and the ones I love. They deserved someone better.
    Truth: God told me I’d be a great mom. He guides me each day through challenges, gives me eyes to see and appreciate their gifts and then he gives grace to me when I am impatient or angry.

  32. I have believed the lie that if I were a better Christian, my mom would treat me better. The truth is that we wrestle not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, and the rulers of darkness in the unseen world. Furthermore, Jesus has told us, the righteous would suffer persecution and that the our greatest enemies would come from our own house.

  33. 1. I believed the lie that I have to take care of myself then in turn my children (my little me’s) because no one else wants to.

    2. God is an ever present Help, sending the Power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen me from within and without through the Body of Christ.

  34. So glad I decided to scroll through old posts this morning. This is a necessary read! My primary lie is that I can only be happy and safe when I’m in control. The truth is I’m safe in the Lord (Pr 18:10) and joy is found only in the Lord! (1 Peter 1)