a friend, but don’t be fooled because she’s destructive as an enemy. She’s here
to destroy your faith, confidence, and especially your relationships. She makes
you doubt yourself, your dreams, and even the purpose God has placed on your
life. She disguises herself as one who wants to help when really her sole
purpose is to put you in bondage; controlling your every thought, word, and
action.
Her name, you ask?
Insecurity.
She’s the closest and most dangerous
friend we’ve allowed into our lives… it is time to say goodbye.
I know
what you’re wondering. How can we really rid ourselves of insecurity when we’ve
been living with her for so long? She has a grip on every area of our lives and
whether we realize her impact or not, we feel her creeping up in our hearts
every single day:
- As we scroll through social media.
- As our husband takes an unknown phone call.
- As a friend cancels plans last minute.
- As a coworker gets a promotion we also applied for.
- As we get a quick glimpse of our reflection.
- As we leave a social event.
Whenever we think we’ve finally parted
ways with insecurity, there she is, in the depths of our hearts like an
infestation that we just can’t seem to get rid of.
However, through the
truth of God we can and we must because insecurity is taking more from us than
we ever wanted to give. Most of all it’s taking our freedom. But as Jesus
instructs us the key to our freedom is truth.
“The truth will set you
free.” – John 8:32 ESV
Truth is the key to unlock the shackles that
insecurity has placed on us; shackles that have stopped us from speaking up,
walking with our heads held high, pursuing our dreams, and living with an open
and trusting heart.
So today I want to provide 4 truths to remember when
you’re feeling insecure:
Where insecurity leaves us feeling rejected
we know that God has accepted us, not just as friends but even as family. 1 John
3:1 reminds us of this important truth.
“See what great love the Father
has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what
we are!” – 1 John 3:1 NIV
If God accepts us there is no need to worry
about who doesn’t.
2.) God Will Not Leave You or Let You
Go
Where insecurity makes us want to push others away, God holds us
tight within His hands. God is not going to let you slip through His fingers.
Where others may walk away, God is here to stay. Romans 8:39 tells
us:
“No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in
all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is
revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:39 NLT
We are always
secure in God’s grasp.
3.) God is Your Defender
Where
insecurity makes us defensive and combative, God defends us.
“The LORD
will fight for you; you need only to be still.” – Exodus 14:14 NIV
We
don’t have to fight to prove ourselves to others when God has proven who He is
in our lives. Let God fight for you.
4.) It is God Who Opens Doors For
You
Where insecurity makes us fearful of missing out, God opens doors
for us that no man can shut. When we realize God is in control of our every step
we don’t have to worry about missing out. Psalm 37:23 tells us:
“The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.” –
Psa 37:23
What God has for us is for us, so we don’t need to fall under
the pressure of striving to meet standards we were never called to
meet.
God’s truth is, and will always be, greater than our insecurity.
What once seemed a powerful and insurmountable foe is exposed for a weak
imposter in light of God’s truth. May His truth constantly set you free from the
bondage of insecurity as you live for Him.
[written by Christina
Patterson]
