Spooky Secrets About Our Insecurities

Is it your reflection in the mirror? A personality trait? A physical feature? A hidden flaw you desperately keep from being exposed? What is your insecurity?

There are a few spooky secrets about our insecurities. First, they are common. Many of us struggle with feelings of inadequacy. We feel ill-qualified to accomplish certain tasks. We think we’re not worthy or not enough for our friends, our children, our spouse, or even God. From an early age, we’ve been groomed by society to attach our self-worth to accomplishments, objects, and appearances. We strive harder to look better, excel higher, and obtain more. And when our efforts fail, our self-esteem crumbles into a paralyzing insecurity which prevents us from seeing ourselves as God sees us.

Another spooky secret about our insecurities is that they reveal themselves in several different ways:

• Pushing people away to avoid risk.
• Dominating conversations so we feel better about ourselves.
• Attempting to be the center of attention for self-validation.
• Being timid to speak what we think for fear of rejection or anger.
• Assuming others have negative intentions due to our low self-worth.
• Showing possessiveness of those close to us for fear of being abandoned.
• Judging others in a negative light so we feel better about ourselves.
• Demonstrating unnecessary rudeness to people because we feel threatened.
• Trying overly hard to be likeable/smart/funny to gain validation.

Whew! And that’s just a few. Sadly, I can relate to some items on this list. Can you?

Probably the greatest spooky secret about our insecurities is this: Your secret insecurities are not so secret. We think we’re able to effectively hide our self-doubts or lack of confidence but clearly, glancing at the above list, inferiority complexes can be identified. Yikes!

Insecurities are like bruises on our heart that keep us from being our authentic selves.

As difficult, uncomfortable, and painful as our insecurities are, we are not alone. Many characters in the Bible suffered similar feelings of insecurity. Moses comes to mind.

For centuries the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, crying out to God for help. Their prayers were answered through Moses who had fled Egypt. While Moses was tending a flock of sheep, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush—the bush was on fire but did not burn up. (Exodus 3:1-2.)

The Lord acknowledged Moses from within the bush and spoke of His intent to rescue the Israelites from their misery and suffering. He chose Moses to champion the cause:

So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt

(Exodus 3:10).

Moses argued with God. His insecurities were revealed.

“Who am I that I should go?”  (Exodus 3:11)

“What if they do not believe me or listen to me?”  (Exodus 4:1)

“I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”  (Exodus 4:10)

Even though God promised to be with Moses and said He would use signs and miracles to validate Moses and his efforts, Moses still made a final plea.

“Oh, Lord, please send someone else to do it.”  (Exodus 4:13)

Moses felt lacking in his abilities. He had a speech impediment and felt completely inadequate for the task at hand. Moses finally chose to obey God and eventually led his people to freedom. God worked through Moses to perform great miracles when Moses trusted Him. Moses learned, as we should, that our abilities have nothing to do with our identity in Christ.

When the power of Christ is in us, our insecurities lose power over us.

The insecure find security in Jesus. Our identity is found in Jesus Christ, not in our appearance, education, financial status, or achievements. God loves us despite our weaknesses and calls us to look to Him alone for our source of security. And, He promises to be with us as we sometimes struggle to cling to that identity.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness

(2 Corinthians 12:8).

Our insecurities aren’t so spooky after all when we ponder the magnitude of who Jesus is and what He has done for us!

Father God, help me see myself as you see me. Your son died to make me worthy, valued, and loved, and you are proud of me. I hand over my insecurities to you today and rest in your love so I may experience freedom from the fear of disapproval, failure, or rejection. In Jesus’ name, amen.