freedom from insecurity
Growing up, I wore a lot of ballet leotards and tights. It was my normal uniform that I put on three days a week. When I was little, I had no trouble putting the tight leotard on and dancing around. But as I got older, my insecurities began to show.
When I got to middle school, I started noticing all of my “flaws” in the ballet mirror — perfectly accentuated by the clinging leotards (basically like swimsuits). I began noticing that my shoulders were really broad… my arms were very muscular and bulky… and my thighs touched.
Wow, friend… I just let you in on some of my biggest insecurities. But hey — here’s the truth about insecurities, why we have them and how we can conquer them.
Insecurity:
a lack of confidence or doubt about one’s self
Whether you’re young… old… short… tall… YOU HAVE INSECURITIES. It’s just a part of our human nature and the way that our minds think. Whether it’s physical, emotional, intellectual or spiritual — we can all feel less-than and lack a Jesus-kind-of-confidence.
For me, it was the way that my body looked in a tight leotard. Since the day I was born, I had a bit of a stronger frame. I had muscles and they showed. But when I got older and started looking around, I was insecure about the way I looked.
We can be insecure about how we look, what our job is, our relationship status or number of followers. The list goes on. And I’m sure if you let your mind go there, you’ll rack up dozens and dozens of things that you are insecure about — things that make you sad and feel less than.
But, friend… I’ve got some news for you…
Your insecurities are not defining truths.
The negative things that you feel about yourself are not YOU. The way that your thighs jiggle when you run is not your defining truth. The chin that you try to hide when you’re laughing hysterically is not your defining truth. The number of followers on your social media apps is not your defining truth.
God alone is your defining truth.
What I mean by defining truth is one simple word: identity. Psalm 139 is about how God has made us so wonderfully — that He is so present and ever faithful. Those who have put their trust, hope & love in God have been given a new identity. This new identity isn’t one that erases our unique characteristics or skills, but enhances them with a new operating system. When God comes into our lives, the game is changed. We’re given a new way to live — an identity rooted in the blood-bought sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. THAT IS SOME POWERFUL STUFF.
Our salvation in Christ gives us security and banishes insecurity. Children of God are heirs to the kingdom — and heirs are given and promised so much by their Father. Freedom to embrace and cherish ourselves is promised but faith needs to be realized. We must believe that we are everything God says we are — free, forgiven, chosen, worthy, loved. We need to speak truth into the cracks of our lives… otherwise, insecurity will relentlessly feed us lies and succeed.
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out all fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made in perfect love.” (1 John 4:18)
It’s one thing to read and hear that we are free, forgiven, chosen, worthy, loved and so forth and so on. But it’s another to actually believe it, live it and let it change our lives. The first thing we need to grasp if we want to live free from insecurity is that GOD’S LOVE IS THE ANSWER.
Just like it says in 1 John 4:18, there is absolutely NO fear in love. There is absolutely no doubt, shame, lack of confidence or anything in God’s love. This kind of love is perfection. Better than the movies, better than anything we can ever experience here on earth. This love has the power to wipe out every insecurity and expel every lie in our lives. It’s that amazing.
If you are battling with crippling insecurity, I just want you to know that you are loved. Simple as that. We can overcomplicate things so easily but it all comes back down to love, God’s beautiful love. This love is unbelievable — so unbelievable that Jesus died on the cross, suffered every bad thing and then rose from the dead to fight for YOU and ME. This radical love transforms the way we see ourselves — now we can see ourselves as free, chosen, loved and forgiven.
And when we see ourselves the way that Christ does, we can take every insecurity to the foot of the cross and LEAVE THEM THERE. We can take every stretch mark and insecurity to Jesus and let Him remind you that your identity is rooted in the Strongest One. Let Him remind you that your defining truth is that you are His child and that He has made you fearfully & wonderfully.
Although I haven’t quite conquered every insecurity, I know that it’s possible and doable. I can wake up every morning and lay my doubts and fears at His feet — knowing that He sees me and will throw them into the depths of the sea. AND YOU CAN TOO. God’s love gives us peace, joy and security that surpasses all understanding. Rest in this and you will be able to live free.
Verses to Remind You of Your Identity
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ephesians 2:10
John 15:5
2 Timothy 1:7
Galatians 3:26
Psalm 139
