Insecurity (n.) – uncertainty or anxiety about oneself; lack of confidence
I asked some of my followers and friends on Instagram for their thoughts on insecurities and these were some of the responses…
“Not today, Satan!”
“Not looking good enough.”
“The cellulite on the back of my legs!”
“I wonder what would happen if we viewed ourselves the same way that we view others?”
We all have insecurities so why is it such a negative thing to talk about them? Why don’t we view ourselves with as much confident splendor as we view others? This has been on my mind a lot lately as I process leaving for the WorldRace in only 13 days. I am insecure about my weaknesses… but I feel as someone with a leadership role, or someone leaving to minister to communities in Third World Countries in general, we aren’t allowed to have insecurities. Or, we aren’t really allowed to talk about them. Sooo I’m going to do just that!
So here is the catch.
“We must let our identity, not our insecurity, be the first thing that walks into every situation we face–every decision we make.” – Lysa Terkeurst
Even though I feel insecure with my communication or I don’t feel adequate to take on the label of a missionary… I cannot let myself be chained to these doubts. If I am chained to my insecurities, I am not chained to the truth of God’s word or who I am as a Child of God. My focus is inward, not above.
There was one response from my Instagram “questionnaire” that really struck me.
“I have a lot of [insecurities] – about myself, my relationships, my future. But when they start to penetrate my thoughts, I have to remind myself that my Father is not a Father of insecurity. My God is not a God of doubt. He is unwavering. He is truth. He is good. He knows who I am, He is my worth, and He desires to be my rock, my cornerstone. I have to ask Him for help a lot. To be grounded in Him. To make Him my identity. To remind me who I am, who He created me to be. To tell me that He looked at me when He made me and said ‘good.’ And the super cool thing is that He never denies me His help. His truth. His goodness love. He always gives me more.”
When the Lord created you, He said ‘good.’ Cellulite, wrinkles, stretch marks, crooked teeth, snort-laughing, extra chromosomes and all, the Lord STILL looks down on you with such admiration and says that you are good. He views you with the same admiration that is reflected on a Father’s face as he watches his child walk for the first time… but like times INFINITY. When I think of this, the Lord looking down on me with that intense delight, my insecurities seem to evaporate. I make mistakes, but they aren’t me. I have weaknesses, but I am still strong. I don’t look like the girls in magazines, but to the God who created ladybugs, rainbows, Mount Everest, and beach sunsets, I am beautiful. The Lord created you in HIS image (Genesis 1:27), He formed you in your mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13), He knows the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30), and your deepest thoughts (Psalm 139:2). His love for you is the richest, purest, strongest love that can wipe away the thick fog of doubt that hides the true beauty reflected in the mirror.
A cure for the common cold of insecurities lies in the Truth of who God says we are.
He says…
I am the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
I am righteous and holy ( Ephesians 4:24)
I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:9-10)
I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved (Colossians 3:12, 1 Thessalonians 1:4)
I am filled with a spirit of power, love and a sound mind, NOT a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7)
I am free (Romans 8:2)
In Christ, I am wise, righteous, sanctified, and redeemed (1 Corinthians 1:30)
I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
I am a Child of God and I will resemble Christ when He returns (1 John 3:1, 2)
“Insecurities paralyze the potential we have to walk fully in who the Lord has created us to be. They cripple and silence, wreaking havoc on the identity Christ died for us to have.” – anonymous
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What I’ve been reading lately :
The Best Yes – Lysa Terkeurst
The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player – John C. Maxwell
