I'm a 23 year old female and was born again about a year ago. It has been the best decision I have ever made, but at times I frustrate myself because I long to have this passion and hunger for God and I don't feel it. I know not to depend on my emotions and to rest and believe in his word but at moments I just wonder "does he hear me?" Lately, I've been feeling without direction. I don't know how to find out what Gods will is for my life or what he wants me to do. Recently I quit my job because my boss continuously harassed me by embarrassing me or even talking down to me and I couldn't deal with it anymore. Now, i'm job hunting and being a recent graduate nurse its been hard to find an opportunity. Then that is followed by the fact that I come from a big family and I love people, but since I was a child I barely had many friends, I've always been the one friends would run to for favors or when they needed a shoulder to cry on but once they were okay I wouldn't hear from them until they needed me again. It doesn't help that I'm shy I've learned to come out of my shell a little bit more throughout the years but its still there. I never knew shyness was a form of pride, and in no way shape or form do I want to have those emotions. All that should matter is what God thinks of me, but at times when there is events or bible studies at church I feel hesitant on going because of my shyness. I'm new to this but would truly appreciate any advice to help me overcome my shyness, seem approachable, how to go about figuring out Gods will for my life, and how to get God working in my life. Thank you.
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In Need of Direction
- Thread starter via88
- Start date
AirDancer
Member
You're not alone, via88 ... I think we've all been in your shoes at least once during our walks. In my own experience, these times coincide with elements of advanced uncertainties, whether it was in my personal life, work, etc. At those moments, I felt over-whelmed and felt I was floundering alone. I could almost hear a muffled voice calling out: "She's going down for the third time!"
The long & short of it: our Lord never leaves us floundering. And once we remind ourselves of this fact, we're able to get back to conversing with our Lord. He already knows our concerns...still, just like your parents, He wants us to tell Him and then to listen to His responses.
One Scripture that offers me comfort during troubled waters' times: Psalm 69 (KJV):
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
My prayers are with you during these challenging times, via88!
Blessings!
The long & short of it: our Lord never leaves us floundering. And once we remind ourselves of this fact, we're able to get back to conversing with our Lord. He already knows our concerns...still, just like your parents, He wants us to tell Him and then to listen to His responses.
One Scripture that offers me comfort during troubled waters' times: Psalm 69 (KJV):
Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul.
2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
3 I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
4 They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.
5 O God, thou knowest my foolishness; and my sins are not hid from thee.
6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.
7 Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.
8 I am become a stranger unto my brethren, and an alien unto my mother's children.
9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.
11 I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them.
12 They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song of the drunkards.
13 But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation.
14 Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
15 Let not the waterflood overflow me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.
16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
17 And hide not thy face from thy servant; for I am in trouble: hear me speedily.
18 Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it: deliver me because of mine enemies.
19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee.
20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24 Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom thou hast wounded.
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
29 But I am poor and sorrowful: let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
31 This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
32 The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
33 For the Lord heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
34 Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
35 For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession.
36 The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall dwell therein.
My prayers are with you during these challenging times, via88!
Blessings!
Last edited by a moderator:
Lorna21
Member
My advice would be to do what you feel would be pleasing to God. Don't overwhelm your self trying to be the perfect christian. When you see oppertunity to do a Chrstian deed or fellowship with other of the Goodness of God do it.
As for being shy, When it comes to being a member of the body of Christ to have fellowship thats how we strengthen the body in the fight against Satan. Will remember you in prayer.
As for being shy, When it comes to being a member of the body of Christ to have fellowship thats how we strengthen the body in the fight against Satan. Will remember you in prayer.
Christ_Follower
Member
Our comfort zone is a tough thing to break through. Trust me, I know, I am a pretty shy person as well. To find God's will for your life read his word. He tells us what he wants for us. However, you won't find specific things in there such as: "Should I choose this job?". Prayer is the only answer for that. Remain strong, fight the good fight.
As for the thing with friends..I have also had the same thing happen to me. However, look at what many people do to God? We always go to him whenever we need something, but when everything is going fine in our lives we decide we don't need him. How many prayers do you think he hears about people wanting things instead of thanking him for the breath he has provided them? We are always listening whenever something bad happens, but when we have good times we turn our ear from him. I mean, look at Job's friends. He needed comfort from them and instead they just bashed him. I know life is tough but John 16:33 says this, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
As for the thing with friends..I have also had the same thing happen to me. However, look at what many people do to God? We always go to him whenever we need something, but when everything is going fine in our lives we decide we don't need him. How many prayers do you think he hears about people wanting things instead of thanking him for the breath he has provided them? We are always listening whenever something bad happens, but when we have good times we turn our ear from him. I mean, look at Job's friends. He needed comfort from them and instead they just bashed him. I know life is tough but John 16:33 says this, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Danus
Member
God works His will in our lives, often by confronting our own will for our lives. It's been joked that we should be careful what we pray for because god will give us the opportunity to get it....
. This is to say that if you pray for patients, you will be given opportunities to practice patience. This is not a bad thing, but our own will is stubborn, it wants comfort and ease. It fears what it does not know. That's why we focus on faith in what we do not know. We need faith to grow, and while some tend to think of themselves as the source of faith, faith is from God. We should be praying for anything we lack.
Webster’s dictionary defines shyness as “the state of being timid, easily frightened, reserved, bashful, and shrinking from contact with others.” For the Christian, shyness can be overcome by relying on the Holy Spirit. The Bible explains this in 2 Timothy 1:7 (TLB): “For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” The Holy Spirit is given by God to those who place their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for their personal sin. The real key is learning to be filled with, and under the control of, the Holy Spirit. Meditating on Ephesians 5:17-21, Ephesians 4:30, and Colossians 3:16 will be helpful to those who are struggling with shyness.
Oddly enough, shyness can actually be a form of pride. Fear of what people will think about us and being overly concerned for the opinions of men (Ephesians 6:6-7; Proverbs 29:25) can be reflection of obsession with self. But the Bible says we are not be worried about the opinions of men, not to fear what men think about us or even what they say about us if we’re doing what we know is right. In fact, if we are striving to live godly lives, we can expect not to be liked (2 Timothy 3:12).
Timidity, shyness and bashfulness are basically fear, and fear is the opposite of faith. We overcome fear through faith from God (Hebrews 11:6) and love from God (1 John 4:18-19). Faith and love from God come from saturating the heart, mind, and life with the Scriptures (Colossians 3:16; Romans 10:17). For sanctifying ourselves (John 17:17) and overcoming fear, doubt and confusion, the power of the Word of God is unequaled (Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Besides becoming a Christian, learning to live under the control of the Holy Spirit, replacing fear and pride with faith and love from God, and saturating our minds with Scripture, we can add one more ingredient to overcoming shyness. The world calls it “self esteem” and “self-image,” but those are not biblical terms. The Bible explains it as living out the identity of who we are in Christ. Meditating through Ephesians 1, we see all that we are in Christ. Shyness is about us, but true Life is about Christ, who is our Life according to Colossians 3:4.
When fear or self-consciousness keeps us from reaching out to other people, that is a reflection of self-centeredness and pride. Starting a conversation and showing interest in others can be an expression of genuine love. When we’re filled with God’s power and motivated by love, we’ll be able to reach out to others in a way that makes them feel appreciated. Then the emphasis is on others instead of on ourselves, and we can begin to live in freedom, self-sacrifice and love for others.
ref: http://www.gotquestions.org/shyness.html
. This is to say that if you pray for patients, you will be given opportunities to practice patience. This is not a bad thing, but our own will is stubborn, it wants comfort and ease. It fears what it does not know. That's why we focus on faith in what we do not know. We need faith to grow, and while some tend to think of themselves as the source of faith, faith is from God. We should be praying for anything we lack. Webster’s dictionary defines shyness as “the state of being timid, easily frightened, reserved, bashful, and shrinking from contact with others.” For the Christian, shyness can be overcome by relying on the Holy Spirit. The Bible explains this in 2 Timothy 1:7 (TLB): “For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” The Holy Spirit is given by God to those who place their faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as payment for their personal sin. The real key is learning to be filled with, and under the control of, the Holy Spirit. Meditating on Ephesians 5:17-21, Ephesians 4:30, and Colossians 3:16 will be helpful to those who are struggling with shyness.
Oddly enough, shyness can actually be a form of pride. Fear of what people will think about us and being overly concerned for the opinions of men (Ephesians 6:6-7; Proverbs 29:25) can be reflection of obsession with self. But the Bible says we are not be worried about the opinions of men, not to fear what men think about us or even what they say about us if we’re doing what we know is right. In fact, if we are striving to live godly lives, we can expect not to be liked (2 Timothy 3:12).
Timidity, shyness and bashfulness are basically fear, and fear is the opposite of faith. We overcome fear through faith from God (Hebrews 11:6) and love from God (1 John 4:18-19). Faith and love from God come from saturating the heart, mind, and life with the Scriptures (Colossians 3:16; Romans 10:17). For sanctifying ourselves (John 17:17) and overcoming fear, doubt and confusion, the power of the Word of God is unequaled (Psalm 19; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Besides becoming a Christian, learning to live under the control of the Holy Spirit, replacing fear and pride with faith and love from God, and saturating our minds with Scripture, we can add one more ingredient to overcoming shyness. The world calls it “self esteem” and “self-image,” but those are not biblical terms. The Bible explains it as living out the identity of who we are in Christ. Meditating through Ephesians 1, we see all that we are in Christ. Shyness is about us, but true Life is about Christ, who is our Life according to Colossians 3:4.
When fear or self-consciousness keeps us from reaching out to other people, that is a reflection of self-centeredness and pride. Starting a conversation and showing interest in others can be an expression of genuine love. When we’re filled with God’s power and motivated by love, we’ll be able to reach out to others in a way that makes them feel appreciated. Then the emphasis is on others instead of on ourselves, and we can begin to live in freedom, self-sacrifice and love for others.
ref: http://www.gotquestions.org/shyness.html
M
Mitspa
Guest
Dear via88, your testimony sounds so familar to me, I also went though many of these things. Even being rejected by my family for my faith! I kinda look at the end of my life when things get hard, when I stand before Him, I dont want to have any regrets! I could quote many scriptures about the "testing of our faith" but that dont always help. I can tell you that "He has You" trust in His Love for you and you will be rewarded above what you can imagine!
Jc1103
Member
I can relate to you way too much on this hahaa. Shyness is not fun 
, and I can definitely relate about the friends who just talk to you when they need something but treat you like a potted plant when they 'don't need you' -.-. I'm still overcoming my own shyness, but what helped was actually opening my heart more to God and letting Him change me by growing closer to Him.
Like I used to be so bad with social anxiety I would stress about taking exams because you had to walk up to the front desk and put your scantron on the table. I'd be like 'what if I fall over and rip my pants :S?!' But when I started growing closer to the Lord and felt happier, my shyness and anxiety started to disappear on its own. Instead of desperately avoiding eye contact with people, I started smiling at th people around me and starting conversations. It definitely wasn't something I did on my own, but Christ opened my heart to not be scared of people or shy.
My advice is to continue to seek Christ and ask Him for help
! You're definitely not alone!!
, and I can definitely relate about the friends who just talk to you when they need something but treat you like a potted plant when they 'don't need you' -.-. I'm still overcoming my own shyness, but what helped was actually opening my heart more to God and letting Him change me by growing closer to Him. Like I used to be so bad with social anxiety I would stress about taking exams because you had to walk up to the front desk and put your scantron on the table. I'd be like 'what if I fall over and rip my pants :S?!' But when I started growing closer to the Lord and felt happier, my shyness and anxiety started to disappear on its own. Instead of desperately avoiding eye contact with people, I started smiling at th people around me and starting conversations. It definitely wasn't something I did on my own, but Christ opened my heart to not be scared of people or shy.
My advice is to continue to seek Christ and ask Him for help
! You're definitely not alone!!
Christ_empowered
Member
Shyness can be terrible. My "shyness" was so terrible that I had to take Valium-type drugs (before conversion) just to deal. Then I got addicted, and...wow. No fun.
I haven't overcome my shyness and fear by prayer. Prayer and Bible Study help, but you have to allow yourself to be who you are, where you are, at this point in time, and push forward with God's help. I think that its good to confess pride to The Lord (self-love and pride are things we all struggle with, all the time), but when it comes down to *doing* something about it, you can't just suppress your fear. Try to work through it.
I'm not perfect at this. I still avoid very crowded stores. I shop for food as early in the AM as I possibly can so I can avoid crowds. I'm a work-in-progress. But I'm not on Valium, not in intensive, secular therapy, and I can *do* things in society, so that's a big step forward. If I can do this, I'm sure you can.
Congratulations on your nursing degree, btw.
I haven't overcome my shyness and fear by prayer. Prayer and Bible Study help, but you have to allow yourself to be who you are, where you are, at this point in time, and push forward with God's help. I think that its good to confess pride to The Lord (self-love and pride are things we all struggle with, all the time), but when it comes down to *doing* something about it, you can't just suppress your fear. Try to work through it.
I'm not perfect at this. I still avoid very crowded stores. I shop for food as early in the AM as I possibly can so I can avoid crowds. I'm a work-in-progress. But I'm not on Valium, not in intensive, secular therapy, and I can *do* things in society, so that's a big step forward. If I can do this, I'm sure you can.
Congratulations on your nursing degree, btw.
I also have struggled in this area of timidity, and it is extremely frustrating because there are many people who will take advantage of it. I have decided not to get rid of it on my own anymore, because it doesn't work. I believe that I am improving in this area because I have been getting a greater revelation of who I am in Christ. In Christ, I am not shy. In Christ, I am as bold as a lion, and everything else that Jesus is (1 John 4:17). It's kind of hard to stop being self-conscious on your own sometimes, but I believe that the more Jesus conscious we become, the less self-conscious we automatically start to be. I also believe that the more we focus on God's tremendous Love for us, the more we will begin to feel and experience our love for Him (1 John 4:19 NIV). I think that God has a special bold calling for those of us who struggle in this area. We're a threat to the devil, and he wants to shut us up!
Also remember that God's Word is His Will, and His Will for your life will never contradict His Word. I have struggled to know God's purpose in my life as well, and I am still waiting to know more, but I now know that Father knows best, and His Timing is perfect. He is your Daddy, and you are His Daughter, and He is always speaking, always listening, always working and always there, no matter what it seems like. That's where faith comes in. I pressed deeper into Jesus, and I found myself. I'm still pressing, and I am still finding more. I am not speaking to you as someone who has fully arrived, but as someone who is on the Journey. We're all in this together here, and we're going to make it!
As a result of this thread, I want to start reading 2 Timothy 1:7 to myself everyday in front of the mirror. I believe that it will have a powerful effect on me. God Bless!
Also remember that God's Word is His Will, and His Will for your life will never contradict His Word. I have struggled to know God's purpose in my life as well, and I am still waiting to know more, but I now know that Father knows best, and His Timing is perfect. He is your Daddy, and you are His Daughter, and He is always speaking, always listening, always working and always there, no matter what it seems like. That's where faith comes in. I pressed deeper into Jesus, and I found myself. I'm still pressing, and I am still finding more. I am not speaking to you as someone who has fully arrived, but as someone who is on the Journey. We're all in this together here, and we're going to make it!
As a result of this thread, I want to start reading 2 Timothy 1:7 to myself everyday in front of the mirror. I believe that it will have a powerful effect on me. God Bless!
M
Mitspa
Guest
I also have struggled in this area of timidity, and it is extremely frustrating because there are many people who will take advantage of it. I have decided not to get rid of it on my own anymore, because it doesn't work. I believe that I am improving in this area because I have been getting a greater revelation of who I am in Christ. In Christ, I am not shy. In Christ, I am as bold as a lion, and everything else that Jesus is (1 John 4:17). It's kind of hard to stop being self-conscious on your own sometimes, but I believe that the more Jesus conscious we become, the less self-conscious we automatically start to be. I also believe that the more we focus on God's tremendous Love for us, the more we will begin to feel and experience our love for Him (1 John 4:19 NIV). I think that God has a special bold calling for those of us who struggle in this area. We're a threat to the devil, and he wants to shut us up!
Also remember that God's Word is His Will, and His Will for your life will never contradict His Word. I have struggled to know God's purpose in my life as well, and I am still waiting to know more, but I now know that Father knows best, and His Timing is perfect. He is your Daddy, and you are His Daughter, and He is always speaking, always listening, always working and always there, no matter what it seems like. That's where faith comes in. I pressed deeper into Jesus, and I found myself. I'm still pressing, and I am still finding more. I am not speaking to you as someone who has fully arrived, but as someone who is on the Journey. We're all in this together here, and we're going to make it!
As a result of this thread, I want to start reading 2 Timothy 1:7 to myself everyday in front of the mirror. I believe that it will have a powerful effect on me. God Bless!
Wow! great post!
Confidence and boldness come from knowing the truth! As He is so are we in this world! Hi via88, I just wanted to say that you are not alone in these feelings! I have been struggling with my shyness my whole life and am only recently trying to work on it. I didn't really understand how bad shyness is until a Pastor explained to me how it is a form of pride. He said pride is when you have an inflated sense of your personal status and accomplishments. Shyness is like a weird hyper pride. You realize how special and valuable you are, but instead of being full of yourself and boasting like pride does, shyness causes us to hold ourselves so dear that we begin to shut other people out because we worry we will be rejected or abused. Shyness doesn't want to even waste our time/effort/emotions on potentially being hurt, so it causes us to draw away from others.
Think of it this way. Shyness is like a selfish kid who just got a fantastic game for his birthday. He realizes how great the game is, so he hides it away in his closet and doesn't let other people play it, because it might get damaged. In the end, he's not really enjoying what it was made for either, so it goes to waste. And when it's your self that's going to waste it really hurts It's that fear and worry that causes us to be so shy, and that is not the way God wants us to be. Proverbs 29:25
I've been learning, as I try to tackle my own shyness, something that causes me to be this way was I did not really understand how God views me. I'm very self loathing, so I didn't have a proper-self image. I rely so much on how others might see me or think of me. And that is so bad for your spirit. People change their minds at the drop of a hat. If you base your opinion of yourself on what your peers, family, or society might think you can never be okay with yourself. Only God's view of you is absolute and the only one that matters, basing your view from His point of view is the only way to ever be stable. (I know you did not say you had a problem with worrying what others think of you, but I thought I'd share since it tied into my shyness, and also I know it goes along with other people's shyness too.)
Really I just wanted to let you know you are not the only person going through this. I just recently started working on this myself, started maybe three months ago and still have a long way to go. You are not alone!
Think of it this way. Shyness is like a selfish kid who just got a fantastic game for his birthday. He realizes how great the game is, so he hides it away in his closet and doesn't let other people play it, because it might get damaged. In the end, he's not really enjoying what it was made for either, so it goes to waste. And when it's your self that's going to waste it really hurts
It's that fear and worry that causes us to be so shy, and that is not the way God wants us to be. Proverbs 29:25I've been learning, as I try to tackle my own shyness, something that causes me to be this way was I did not really understand how God views me. I'm very self loathing, so I didn't have a proper-self image. I rely so much on how others might see me or think of me. And that is so bad for your spirit. People change their minds at the drop of a hat. If you base your opinion of yourself on what your peers, family, or society might think you can never be okay with yourself. Only God's view of you is absolute and the only one that matters, basing your view from His point of view is the only way to ever be stable. (I know you did not say you had a problem with worrying what others think of you, but I thought I'd share since it tied into my shyness, and also I know it goes along with other people's shyness too.)
Really I just wanted to let you know you are not the only person going through this. I just recently started working on this myself, started maybe three months ago and still have a long way to go. You are not alone!
M
Mitspa
Guest
I like to think in terms of who I am in Christ? I can be in a room filled with those who are considered to have little value in this world, and become as a servant unto them. Or I can walk among those who are considered great in this world, and know that the King of Kings has made me above all those that glory in this world. I can look upon the humble with the compassion of Christ, or I can look upon the proud with His righteous glare. AS HE IS, SO AM i in this world.