Dear Reader,

The problem of insecurity plagues multitudes of persons, creating for them an emotional barrier that can range from being embarrassing and a nuisance to becoming a crippling factor that actually hinders their being fulfilled in life. Insecurity is not new to this generation or age, and is no respecter of race, nationality, religious or ethnic creed, age, or gender. Insecurity can be as simple as stage fright, or it can be something that actually causes an individual to become physically ill in the face of a public assignment or duty.

In looking at this subject, we must first of all recognize that God has made each of us different. The field of psychology recognizes four major types of personalities, and two of them, the choleric and the phlegmatic, are at opposite ends of the spectrum of outgoing extrovert and the reticent, timid introvert. That being said, we conclude that there are human natures that would rather remain in the background than be in the limelight.

We do want to notice, however, that insecurity can afflict any of these personality types, so we cannot blame our insecurity upon “the way God made us”. So, if it’s not from my personality type, where does it come from? If we trace the problem to its source, I believe we will have to go back to the temptation of Eve by the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. The initial part of that temptation involved a question that, among other things, had impact upon two important aspects of humanity. The first part had to do with how Adam and Eve perceived God, the second part had to do with how they perceived themselves. The Bible declares that we are made in the image of God, which provided for us the emotional security we need to be healthy. However, because Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation, and desired to be like God (or, as another translation renders, ‘You will be gods’), the resulting failure marred at least part of God’s image in us, and to their dismay and ours, they discovered that they, and we, are not God, nor are we gods. The discovery of this reality lends itself to being the fertile soil of our own feelings of insecurity.

So, is God happy with that? Does He say, “It serves you right! You’ve destroyed the basis of your security, so you must live with your insecurity for the rest of your life!” ?

I don’t think so!

Let’s see if we can discover how God ministers to us in our insecurity. First, we need to understand that we are very valuable to Him, for two reasons. One, He created us, and did so in a totally unique fashion. None of us are exactly like any one else. Two, God has also provided for our redemption, i.e. , He has paid the price necessary for each of us to be restored in relationship to Him.

Second, the Bible describes the relationship we humans can have with Him in various ways. Many of these ways use picture language that we are familiar with, which helps us understand the significance He places upon us. Look at these word-picture descriptions: we are called “children” of God, Who is described as our “Father”, with Jesus Christ, God’s Son, being our Elder Brother. In another picture, we are described as being adopted, that is, chosen by God to be brought into relationship with Him. Two other pictures come from the field of agriculture. In the first, as God’s children, we are pictured as sheep, with Jesus as our Good Shepherd. In a second, we are likened to the branches on a vine, drawing our nutrition and strength from Jesus, the Vine, in order to produce fruit pleasing to the Father. In yet another word picture, the persons who are called the children of God are likened to a Bride, who will be presented to the Father by the Groom, who represents Jesus. So, all through the Bible, there are pictures like these that portray how God feels about us, and that show the deep love that He has for us. The insecure person can rest assured that she has value, that he is worth something to God, and in reality, to others.

In a second area, we need to understand that we have purpose of existence in God’s economy. There is a reason why we are here. In the Old Testament story of Esther, Mordecai, her relative, reminds her that it was possible that she had attained the position of queen “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) The Apostle Paul tells us in his testimony how the Lord called him to service in the Kingdom of God. The Bible gives numerous examples of common, everyday people who were just like the most of us, but God called them to a specific task or responsibility. The criteria for being chosen? God’s desire to use them (and us), and their (and our) willingness to obey Him. In the book of Jeremiah, we read where God told the prophet, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jer 29:11). We discover that God is no respecter of persons, so, if He called some, He calls all – not to the same task, of course, but to the same purpose, that of being an obedient child. What’s more, my purpose, and your purpose, has eternal significance. What we do as a child of God for Him and others will bear results that can outlast our physical existence by far. When I fulfill God’s purpose for my life, I impact others around me in positive fashion, with the potential of seeing that impact multiply many times over. For that insecure person, please be notified that your life has a reason, a plan, something bigger than you, but something which you can be part of.

There is a third area where we can discover that God does not want us to have feelings of insecurity. It is embedded in the thought that each of us has destiny. Not only is there value and purpose, but there is also destiny for us. I’m going somewhere else when I leave here. Again, the Bible is clear in its presentation of existence after physical death. This existence is categorized into two groups; those who will enjoy eternal life with Jesus in a place of bliss, and those who will endure eternal separation from God in a place of punishment. The point we need to see here is that death to the physical body does not terminate our entire existence. And for the child of God, there is the promise of resurrection, where our spirits and souls will once again be joined to a physical body prepared for existence in eternity. This is what the Bible calls eternal, or everlasting, life.

We understand from the Bible that the physical life as we know it is a time of preparing for where we will spend eternity. God promises us his presence and his help as we endeavor to live our lives in the way He directs. The Scriptures tell us that He will not break a bruised reed, nor will He snuff out or quench a smoking flax (Isaiah 42:3). He is working for us, and wants us to be secure in His love, protection, and care.

So, if you are suffering from insecurity, take comfort in what God promises you as you follow Him. Remember, we are not wrong when we depend upon Him for our security.

Thanks for reading,
Pastor Ritchey