CHAPTER 30: INSECURITY 2023
Insecurity gets a pretty bad rap, and rightly so. Makes me feel like a loser, right? Well, I took a different approach. A different perspective. I decided to listen to my insecurity tell me what’s wrong with me, and then say…., Okay, I know what to fix. I got a map, bullet points, I can attack this thing, this horrible insecurity thing might actually help me pin point some issues. With God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, I could fix it! “A new creation in Christ!” Let’s go with that.
2 Corinthians 12:9
New International Version
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Insecurity walks with me reminds me that I am not infallible and that mistakes made will cost me a great deal. In some instances I might even say the Lord, the Holy Spirit is bringing to my attention things that need tended to. Fear is without knowledge. I get scared about what I don’t know. The solution? Get understanding, find out what it is that scares me, learn about it and then, armed with correct information, do what needs to be done based on a competent assessment. Investigation and study of a situation, align with God against the insecure, ask Him for clarity in a given problem or situation, feeling or emotion.
James 1:5
New International Version
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
He says I can ask for wisdom and get it directly from the Father!! Of course, insecurity will tell you the opposite, so you do have to really come against yourself. “I can’t do it,” is a lie.
Matthew 19:26
New International Version
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
I need to discover the truth and proceed with accuracy, humility and discernment. It’s not easy. Sometimes I need to pause, study and learn.” Insecurity keeps me humble, able to do the Lord’s work.
Proverbs 18:15
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.”
I do want to take a moment to make a difference between caution and fear. They are different. Fear is WITHOUT information, caution is WITH information. In caution, I have experience, previous information, knowledge of a particular kind for just such an occasion. If I make a mistake in fear, it is generally because I don’t understand entirely. Caution is a continuation of information that has already been learned. One thing is for sure, insecurity will stop the process of growth in either one, if you let it. Don’t let it. Identify and overcome. Investigate, pray and obey.
Jeremiah 33:3
Amplified Bible
3 ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.’
Sometimes when I’m tired, get sick or have bad times, I might start thinking about “hocus pocus,” luck instead of grace. I might think of stupid things like, wear the same socks, burn incense candles, place the magic rocks or a good luck charm in the kitchen next to the apple sauce. Stupid. Stay away from that stuff.
James 3:15
New International Version
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Do we, with alcohol and drugs, sacrifice ourselves to temporarily overcome insecurity? Yes. Is that a solution? Of course not, it makes everything worse. Bad habits happen when insecurity wins. Fight against it, solve the problem, don’t use a band aid. Insecurity clearly is a tough task master. Be ready for the final step of the “teaching” insecure offers. Faith. Ah yes, Faith.
Matthew 17:20
New International Version
20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”
Do the work, be prepared, find the answers and the solutions.
Ephesians 2:10
New King James Version
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Is there a magic spell that can fix all things, something perhaps, surely some scientific something, universal? Be careful.
Deuteronomy 18:9
Don’t let anyone use magic or witchcraft, or try to explain the meaning of signs. Don’t let anyone try to control others with magic, and don’t let them be mediums or try to talk with the spirits of dead people. The Lord hates anyone who does these things.
It is much more difficult to study the challenge — and actually tackle the scenario, depending on what you discover in your investigation. Whatever insecurity has brought you, say thank you, I’ll work on this right away and get an answer.
Matthew 25:21
English Standard Version
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[a] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
If I choose to ignore my insecurity and walk away from the challenge, what happens? I stay stagnant. What happens if I go after it, accept the challenge, say my prayers and attack the situation to find the information needed? I learn the power of Faith and His grace given in me through the Holy Spirit. Remember Goliath threatened David and all of Israel? Goliath ten times the size of David — insecure overcome, David’s Faith — powerful, successful, Real.
1 Samuel 17:45 NIV 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.
A quote by Billy Graham:
“The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.”
Tell that to your “insecurity.”
2 Corinthians 9:8
Holman Christian Standard Bible
8 And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.
Insecurity will fade into action if I force myself through it. The Lord will teach me things for my adventure.
Philippians 4:6
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Over 365 times, in the Bible, God’s Word invites, commands and instructs us in how to process fear or anxiety. First, thing to note, He has not left you alone, as Paul said.
Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Insecure is not bigger than God, it is possibly a tool that the Lord uses against the devil’s wily ways. Only with God, accept the challenge.
Proverbs 3:5-7
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.”
My insecurity actually gives me a moment to speak with Him, insight, clear focus, an honest study of the problem, direction and facts to proceed. With God I find the right person, the right book, the right information, the right prayer.
Proverbs 2:6-8
Contemporary English Version
6 All wisdom comes from the Lord,
and so do common sense
and understanding.
7 God gives helpful advice[a]
to everyone who obeys him
and protects all of those
who live as they should.
8 God sees that justice is done,
and he watches over everyone
who is faithful to him.
When I forget God, I fail myself. Find the correct path in Jesus Christ. Demolish fear and any opposition to success . Listen and learn from Insecurity. Learn and gathering knowledge. Never walk away pray to understand, contemplate obedience and His Will for you in all things. Employ and deploy the knowledge and wisdom found in God’s Word, direction in all matters — avoid anything that is not a correct decision, no matter how hard it’s going to be to avoid, change course or proceed.
Insecurity is the voice of “something bad” calling me out, making me feel “less than.” Don’t back down. I will let it irritate me, and then I’ll fight, calling on a very powerful God to help. Can you imagine fighting your enemy and your army is God?
Exodus 14:14
New International Version
14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Can you imagine. Sure you can, He gave you your brain. Amen.
