As a teenager, I wish I had known how to overcome not only insecurities, but self-doubt and timidity, too. Like my monogrammed purse, I carried them everywhere. You would expect that at my age, I would have conquered them. Not so.
“It’s upside down, hanging on the pole,” hubby said as he stood looking out the patio door. “It ate all the bird seed.”
“What did?” Curiosity sparked in me.
When he told me it was a possum, I cringed. Although they’re God’s creatures, I dislike them more than a little. They rip our garbage bags, eat the eggs cute ducks lay, and ruin our yard. And to make it more disgusting, the bird seed we prepared for the birdies were now feeding the very creatures I so dislike. Yuck!
But sadly, that wasn’t the only time I fed something I disliked. I had been a pro at feeding my insecurities with lies—my friends won’t accept me if I say something wrong. Why try something new, I’ll surely fail.
Now decades later, the same lies feed the ugly creature of insecurity: I’m not being productive enough. I’m not serving diligently. My writing is not reaching my readers the way it should. God is not pleased with me. And when I make a mistake or make a wrong decision, I give a double helping to the critter that makes me cringe.
See how I became a pro at feeding the beast of insecurity? Do you ever do that? If so, please let me know. And together we’ll make sure we starve it, abandon it and kill it for good.
Once gone, we can declare that God, only God has the power, the words, and the exaltation that merits feeding. His Words of truth must be the only food for our soul. Scripture echoes this very truth:
“Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (1 Chronicles 29:12).
Father, thank you for the strength and wisdom you give me to silence insecurities. Thank you for the exaltation that comes from your Word that will exchange those insecurities for confidence, poise and your power that’s at work in me. In the name of Jesus, amen.
• What insecurity lurks in you?
• How do you conquer it?
• What promise from God speaks to you?
Janet Eckles
If this message resonated with you, please visit Janet’s cyberspace home for more inspiration.