When you have been abused, rejected, or abandoned, it’s easy to become shame based and end up with a very poor self-image. The devil knows this, so he will attack your personal confidence whenever he can find an opening. He wants you to believe that you are a failure, because without confidence you will never step out and try to do the things you truly want to do. He does not want you to fulfill God’s plan for your life. If he can make you believe that you are incapable, then you won’t even try to accomplish anything worthwhile. And even if you do make an effort, your fear of failure will seal your defeat, which, because of lack of confidence, you probably expected from the beginning. This is often referred to as the “failure syndrome.” You fail because of wrong beliefs, and you continue to have wrong beliefs because you fail. It’s hard to know which came first, but you find yourself in a trap you cannot seem to get out of. What’s the answer? As a redeemed child of God, the Bible says that you are “in Christ.” Jesus defeated Satan and triumphed over him at the cross. And because you are “in Christ,” His victory is your victory. You can break out of the failure syndrome and begin to succeed in life. Here is why: “Despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Note the words “despite all these things.” Regardless of what has happened to you in the past, God has a wonderful future in mind for you.