The big question we’re wrestling with is, “What’s holding you back?” It’s a question I have asked myself many times. My answers to the question have revolved around three false beliefs that have kept showing up in my thinking time and time again. They are:
Scarcity – the belief that “There’s not enough.” This is available on last week’s blog.
Insecurity – the belief that “I’m not enough.”
Powerlessness – the belief that – “I can’t do enough.”
Here are three things I want you to know about insecurity:
Insecurity is a powerful enemy that wants to hold you hostage!
It may be a familiar companion but it’s not harmless.
Insecurity is the belief that your abilities, talents, and strengths are deficient in some way.
It makes us say things like, “I’m not smart enough. I’m not talented enough. I’m not good enough.” Which leads to “I can’t __________ because I’m not enough.” You fill in the blank.
In elementary school, middle school, and high school, I was the only student in the school that was in a wheelchair. I was always the smallest. I was the school cripple. Today, I understand that God created me different for a reason. But at the time, being different felt like a curse. In fact, it was a curse, not from God, but from me!
Insecurity is a trap that will hold you back from being the person God created you to be.
It will hold you hostage to the fears of failure and rejection.
It will cause you to live in a state of constant comparison to other people.
It will blind you to your true God-given abilities and potential.
But it doesn’t have to be this way! The Apostle Paul said, “Don’t copy the behaviors and customs of this world, but let God transform you by changing the way you think” (Rom. 12:2).
Insecurity is a powerful enemy… but it can be defeated. How? By changing the way we think. By changing the way we think about WHAT? Here are two areas that often feed our insecurity:
First…We need to change the way we think about our PAST.
Like me, you may have some painful things in your past. But what’s true about your past doesn’t have to be true about your future. God knows who you really are no matter how others have treated you, or labeled you, or how you have labeled yourself!
We usually think that God only uses perfect people. So, we strive to be perfect and fall short over, and over again. Which just feeds our insecurity.
The truth is, God uses broken people to fix what’s broken in the world. When you understand this, life takes on a whole new meaning. Why? Because there is a lot broken in this world and God has already prepared you to be a part of the solution!
For example, we’re working at PPI to solve poverty through empowerment. Every time I see the picture below, my heart says, “That’s not ok.” But insecurity says, “You’re not smart enough, strong enough or spiritual enough to help solve the problem.” But that’s not true!
Many of us have allowed negative experiences from our past to determine the value we place on ourselves today. I don’t know your history, but I do know this…
God can break the insecurity that has held you hostage IF you will let Him.
Next week I’ll share the second big area that often feeds our insecurity.
You can contact me at tim@peopleprosper.org. I always enjoy hearing from you! Please don’t hesitate to let me know how I can be praying for you.
