When I feel Insecure…God is my BEST FRIEND
Did you ever go to extreme lengths to catch the attention or win the approval of someone else? My cousin once used duct tape to “wax” her eyebrows like the older girl’s at school—and lost half of her left eyebrow.
I used to sit on the beach with a giant book (upside down) when I was too young to read so I could be like my Aunt who loved books. What was I thinking, missing all the fun in the water?
My brother once shaved his head into a ridiculous mohawk to look like the other boys on his baseball team.
Come on. I know you’ve done something… fess up!
Sometimes we think we have to look like someone else or act like someone else in order to be accepted. We might feel pressure to change who we are or to become something we aren’t to get someone to like us. Have you ever noticed that when you are feeling insecure, all your fears and anxiety might be cured by one person choosing to accept you and be your friend or one boy giving you attention? While those friendships can be a gift, they can also leave a void because friends and boyfriends come and go.
God is my secure friend. He is always choosing me. Check out what Romans 5:8 says: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” We don’t have to change who we are or change our behavior to receive God’s approval. He loves us when we’re unlovable. Before we choose Him He chose us!
This is what Jesus said to His followers: “I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you”(John 15:15-16).
God didn’t just choose me, He confided in me. That’s what close friends do. When I moved to a new state in fourth grade I had no friends. I quickly realized God was my best friend. Now I’m thirty-three, and many of my friends are married and having babies. I’m still single, and even though God had blessed me with a few dear friends, He is still my Best Friend. God fills up the insecurities in my heart with His truth and love and His purpose for me. He gives me exactly what I need to make it through each moment of the day. He always shows up and never changes His mind about me. My other friends aren’t my essential rock like Jesus is; there’re just icing on the cake.
When I feel insecure, I feel lonely and different, like something is missing or wrong with me. What’s wrong is the focus is all on me! When I’m confident in my relationship with God, I’m not needy. People want to be around me because I’m speaking life and hope to others instead of worrying about myself: “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people…God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Dear Counselor,
We are all on the same path, searching for love and belonging. Thank You that my identity and purpose is in You alone. Instead of focusing on my own desire to be seen and heard, help me to smile and speak life to someone else who is struggling. I can share You hope with them. I can encourage them to never give up. Wow, Lord that changes everything.
My insecurity turned into purpose. Amen!
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