CHAPTER 30: INSECURITY 2022
John 14:3
New King James Version
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.
First off, in past Chapter 30 lessons, I’ve not been clear upfront about the positive aspects of Insecurity. Insecurity is my friend, it walks with me and tells me the cautious nature necessary to walk this earth safely. It 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 to be tended to. Fear is without knowledge. I get scared about what I don’t know. The solution to that is to get understanding, to 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. In the doing of investigation and study of a situation, I align with God, because I ask Him, before I begin, to help me be clear in a given problem or situation. To ask for Wisdom. Look, if you think you can’t do something that needs to be done, figure out how to do it, He’s given all of you so much. To say “I can’t do it!” That may be a lie from you to yourself.
1 Peter 5:7
New King James Version
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
In all fiduciary situations, I need to discover the truth and proceed with accuracy, humility and discernment. It’s not easy. Sometimes we need to pause for prayer, and then again go back, study and learn more. Insecurity pointed out to me “where I need to pause, study and learn.” It has been very helpful to me as long as I act on it. Without information, fear will overcome me and I will freeze.
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. Making an error in caution is different. In caution I’m testing the waters. I have experience with a problem an I’m working towards a solution. Both, however do require more study and information.
Take for instance you or me as construction contractor. Bidding on a job with a new client is tough. I wouldn’t be sure exactly how things work, perhaps my bid would seem to high or too low based on the information I received. Feeling insecure about my numbers makes sense. The solution is discussion with the new client, gathering more information — my insecurity will lead me in that direction if I allow it. If I hide from it, I miss the point, bid incorrectly and it is a recipe for failure of the relationship. That is the yield of fear if I let it be. What about caution? In the same example, my new job opportunity may be with a General Contractor I’ve worked with before — I may have information that the previous job with this person did not go well. Going into the meeting armed with this information, it is much easier to clarify with all parties what happened before and perhaps solutions to do better this time. You see, caution is a continuation of information that has already been learned. Fear is without information. Both require more work, more study, more God. Also, I am reminded that all of us are not the same. We all don’t see eye to eye, and we all don’t necessarily like or love one another. That is a very important point I had to come to terms with.
It is not a requirement for people to like me when I work with them for me to like them or for them to like me. That is a huge fact, huge — something that rocked my world.
James 2:1-4
New King James Version
2 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in [a]fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in [b]filthy clothes, 3 and you [c]pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not [d]shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
In short, I can have anything I want that is good in His eyes, if I’m willing to work with people I don’t like. Get it? You can have anything you want, if you’re willing to work with people you don’t like. I try and make sure every request is run past the Lord in prayer, first and remember that famous quote said by I don’t know who, but it’s great.
There, but for the grace of God, go I.
Let me say something about hocus-pocus. Sometimes when I get sick or have bad luck, I might start thinking stupid solutions/options. Wear the same socks, burn incense candles, place the magic rocks or good luck charm in the kitchen next to the apple sauce. Consult the daily horoscope. All manner of nutsy stuff people come up, myself included. Stay away from that stuff. Since all knowledge is God, don’t be confused by silly concepts in the world. Magic is of men, true power is of God.
There is true wisdom and then there is “nonsense pretending to be wisdom.” Know the difference.
James 3:15
New International Version
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
Do we not with alcohol and drugs sacrifice ourselves to temporarily overcome insecurity? Is that a solution? Of course not, it makes everything worse. Insecurity clearly is a tough task master. That’s good. It will yield if I listen to what insecurity is saying to me. Insecurity can tell me what needs to be done. Identify the spots that need to be tended to, learned about, studied and practiced. And then we are ready for the final step of the teaching our insecurity has to offer. Faith. Ah yes, Faith, that God has prepared us and we are now ready for the challenge.
Matthew 10:19-20
New King James Version
19 But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Do the work, be prepared and then let God be through you, in you, with you. Have Faith that He has prepared a good work in you.
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.
As it is said, “a critical leap of Faith.” So the doing of overcoming insecurity is a verb. We must learn as a very to overcome what we do not know, otherwise we resort to stupid. And believe me, there is stupid all around us, solutions that are a waste of time and talent — do we turn to such matters in our fears? Unfortunately, yes — as if there is a magic spell that can fix all things.
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.
Because the other nations do these things, the Lord your God will force them out of the land ahead of you. But you must be innocent in the presence of the Lord your God. The nations you will force out listen to people who use magic and witchcraft, but the Lord your God will not let you do those things. The Lord your God will give you a prophet like me, who is one of your own people. Listen to him.
Moses said that. Who did Moses listen to? God. You know I might say, “Hey, I don’t use witch craft!” Really, maybe not exactly, or maybe exactly, hopefully not, but tell me, what’s the difference of “wave the magic wand”, or “if I just get that loan, or sell this piece of property, all my problems will be over.” “Why if I do this or do that, I can be …, whatever fill in the blank, a millionaire, famous, all problems solved. What’s the difference? Are we fixing the original problem? I know I wasn’t. How do I know? Because I’m the problem, not listening to my insecurity and fixing me.
Magic is of people. Miracles are of God. Let’s not rely anymore on my lucky hat, or the magic crystals, or the cards that talk, stay away from such things, put your faith in Christ.
C’mon by the code of the magician, it is slide of hand, deception, foolery, or worse whatever someone has tricked me into believing. It is easier to walk away from something hard, isn’t it? It is much more difficult to study the challenge — and actually tackle the scenario, depending on what you discover in your investigation. Wow. That is a lot like obedience, don’t you think?
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 decide to walk away from whatever it is, what do I risk? I’ll tell you what it cost me in the past. I stay stagnant and scared and the problem will continue to rear it’s ugly head in my life over and over again. What happens if I go after it, accept the challenge, say my prayers and attack the situation to find the information needed? What happens is my “Faith in God sustains me and I prevail a little at a time or all at once.” What’s my favorite story of Faith? It’s a good one.
1 Samuel 17:45 NIV
45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”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.”
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.
When you pick up a bad attitude and you don’t know why – lose it, refresh yourself. When you are in a position of authority and you need to better things in certain areas, get to it, be better, follow direction, find people that can and will help. Insecurity will fade into action and whether things work out the way you want or not, the Lord will teach you things you need to know for your adventure, this one and the next.
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 as a “helper” from God to help you and me grow and mature, if we accept the challenge. God doesn’t lie, and He says He is with you. He never intended for our feelings to have more power in our lives than His Word. I am responsible to take the action. God is responsible for the results. Remember that always.
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.”
All knowledge comes from God. My insecurity actually sent me into the presence of the Lord, who then gave me insight, clear focus, an honest look at a challenge, to point me in the right direction and discover facts to proceed. Oh yes, as I study the blueprint of a problem, who to ask, what to say, where to look for answers — when I read the Word, all kinds of things occur to me, things that are good and profitable. The right person to talk with, the right book to read, the right information to ask for, the right prayers to pray. Perhaps my insecurity is a wonderful message from the Lord? A guidance program designed just for whatever stands before me on the “to-do” list? How to handle those things that seem impossible, but with prayer, study and practice, God is God and in Him you and I are amazing. Without Him, our direction and discernment is not very good. My compass without Him – has proved to be extraordinarily dangerous.
Luke 16:10-11
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
We all have to earn our future, our destiny, our path with God. You will be tested, it says that over and over in scripture.
1 Peter 1:6-7
New King James Version
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be,
you have been [a]grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith,
being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire,
may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
What is the solution for Insecurity for me? Understand what it is saying and learn from it — then do it, in faith and obedience.
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.
People tell me, hey, God doesn’t see that justice is done. Quit it, mankind has made a mess out of this world, and then in foolishness we ask, “why did you let us do that?” Kids, the United States stands firm in the world when we are based in God. Not so much when we forget, not so much. Learn from history, learn from the Jewish people. When we forget God, we fail — but along the way we hurt a lot of people. Try your best to stay on the right side of the fence. Find the correct path in Jesus Christ. Demolish fear and any opposition to failure. Listen and learn from Insecurity. Enjoy due process of learning and gathering knowledge. Never walk away from the challenge, understand it first, contemplate good choices, employ and deploy knowledge and wisdom that comes from God’s direction in all matters — then make the correct decision. Insecurity, is the voice of a friend, at least it has been for me. Listen, identify and re-direct.
Amen.
