Insecure, adj. "Subject to fears, doubts, etc.; ... not confident or certain; uneasy; anxious... not firmly or reliably placed or fastened: an insecure ladder."
Shells are the things like humor, shyness, or pretend-confidence that we use to hide our secret insecurities. It's no fun to live with shells or the burden of insecurity. What are some ways to keep insecurity from dominating our lives?
I suggest we think on this:
Theology. Who are you in Christ? Who does Jesus say you are? To get security, we must get theology first. We have to dive into the Bible—but not just for the sake of reading verses. We need to read in order to know—to let those verses tell us who we are. ??
The Bible encourages us with truth. Second Corinthians says that God is "the God of all comfort." That means that He can supply comfort for all troubles, situations, and fears. Including insecurity.
Identity. Who are you? This question is often at the root of insecurity. When fear grabs hold of our hearts, likely it's because we don't remember who we are in Christ.
Who are you in Christ?
If you are God's child, adopted through your repentance and the kindness of God, the Bible says you are:
An heir with Christ (Rom. 8:17).
Part of a holy nation-a people for God's own possession (1 Pet. 2:9).
A daughter of God, whom He promises to lead (2 Cor. 6:18).
Set apart (called out) from living like the world (2 Cor. 6:17; Eph. 4:20-23).
Loved with an everlasting love (Jer. 31:3).
While we may know of God's purpose for us as His children, we might be living apart from that purpose. A chapel speaker at my school noted recently, "Dissonance takes place in our souls when there is a difference between who we are and what we do." Your life-song plays off-key when you stray from living for Christ.
What do your actions say about who you are? Do they conflict with who Christ says you are in Him? If you aren't living out who you are in Christ, you're going to feel unsteady.
Others. Recognize that others share your position in Christ. You are equal before Him. It's not a competition to be better. You are His—that's what matters. Nothing you do can make you more or less loved by Him.
In the end, it doesn't matter how you think you stack up against other people. So why worry about it?
Remember Jesus. He is the factor that changes the entire equation. Sure, life may look frustrating right now. From where you stand, the future may look depressing. Remember Jesus.
Pastor Matt Chandler said, "Life is a rhythm of remembering and rejoicing." Throughout the Psalms when the people of Israel needed renewed hope, they listed off all the past scenarios where God had shown His kindness to them. They remembered the past goodness of God. They rejoiced in that goodness, knowing that God's nature would never change. Remembering the identity of God shifts our focus to where it ought to have been all along—on Him.
