BY PASTOR T. O. BANSO
In the context of this message, insecurity refers to a feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about oneself and a lack of confidence about one’s abilities. People can feel insecure because of a difficult childhood, negative past experiences, past failure, social pressure, or what someone said in the past.
Those suffering from feelings of insecurity have self-doubt and think others are better than they are. They don’t feel they measure up. It is difficult for them to express their opinions or make decisions. They fear rejection and always seek others’ approval. They are too concerned about people’s opinions about them, engage in excessive comparison, and are too sensitive to criticism. They could also feel overconfident or threatened by others’ success. You can overcome insecurity whatever the cause.
Deal with insecurity. In Numbers 11, Moses was told that two men among his seventy elders, Eldad and Medad, who had remained in the camp were prophesying like the other elders because the Spirit of the Lord had rested upon them. God took of the Spirit that was upon Moses and put the same upon the seventy elders. The reaction of Moses’ assistant, Joshua, was: “Moses my lord, forbid them!” (Numbers 11:28b NKJV).
But Moses’ reply showed he was a secure leader; he didn’t feel bad that the two leaders who didn’t go to the camp prophesied like the rest who did. Moses replied: “Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the LORD’S people were prophets and that the LORD would put His Spirit upon them!” (Verse 29 NKJV). What a secure leader! Was he anticipating the outpouring of God’s Spirit on all flesh, which the Prophet Joel later spoke about in Joel 2:28-29 and was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2?
Are you secure or feel threatened by others when they use their gifts? Do you always feel the more the merrier or do you always feel like others have come to take your place and make you irrelevant? Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:5, “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification” (NKJV).
Insecurity in leadership kills organizations. Insecure leaders frustrate followers/subordinates with the potential the organization should harness. They feel threatened by the possibility that the rising stars under them could overshadow them. Eventually, such rising stars may quit.
Great people are always secure, and if you will be great, you must overcome insecurity. Otherwise, your insecurity can make you eliminate from your life the same people that God has sent to bless you.
Jesus demonstrated an excellent example in Mark 9:38-40, similar to what Moses did. One of the disciples of Jesus told Him that they saw someone who did not follow them casting out demons in His name, and they forbade him because he did not follow them. Jesus replied, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side” (Mark 9:39-40 NKJV).
Jesus didn’t say that because the man whom His disciples spoke about didn’t follow them, therefore, they should forbid him. Rather, He approved of the man’s independent ministry! What was important to Jesus was doing the job the right way. It wasn’t about whether the man was following them or not. As long as the man believed in His name and was casting out demons in His name, He was okay with it.
If the man could cast out demons in His name without following them, he was doing a good job that should be commended. It showed he wasn’t against Jesus but for Him. Jesus was secure. Jesus wanted everyone who believed in Him to cast out demons. He later said that one of the signs that would follow or accompany those who believed in Him was that they would cast or drive out demons in His name (Mark 16:17).
Some people are insecure and envious of others. They want to be the only ones being celebrated. They are uncomfortable seeing others also being celebrated. It is unChristian. Those who have this attitude must repent. The world is not created for them alone.
John the Baptist had no insecurity. Therefore, he could celebrate Jesus. He could introduce Jesus as better than He was. “John answered, saying to all, ‘I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire’” (Luke 3:16 NKJV). In John 1:29-30, John said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me’” (NKJV).
Also in John 1:36, John, standing with two of his disciples looked at Jesus walking and said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” (NKJV). John knew who Jesus was and didn’t compete with Him. Rather, he magnified Him even when He came to him for baptism. Matthew 3:13-15 says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?’ But Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he allowed Him” (NKJV).
When John was later told that Jesus was baptizing and everyone was going to Him, John didn’t feel bad about it. He said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’ He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all” (John 3:27-31 NKJV).
Overcome insecurity. Don’t see life as a competition between you and others. Don’t see others’ success as a barrier to yours. Don’t see those who are ahead of you as your enemies. We are all in different phases of our lives. Run your race, not another person’s race. Stay in your lane.
Your feeling of uncertainty or anxiety about yourself and a lack of confidence in your abilities could be because of your childhood, negative past experiences, past failures, social pressure, or what someone said to you in the past. Still, you must overcome insecurity to become all God wants you to be.
How to overcome insecurity
1. Let your identity be founded on God. Be established in God’s love for you (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:16). Know that God made and loves you; therefore, there is no need to feel insecure. Nothing can make God stop loving you (Romans 8:35-39).
Your identity should not be rooted in you – your qualities, gifts, positions, or possessions. Neither should it be based on people’s opinions or assessments, which are not necessarily God’s verdict or everybody’s belief about you. Your identity should be founded on God. The conversation between God and Jeremiah, who felt inadequate, emphasizes this: “The word of the Lord came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.’ ‘Alas, Sovereign Lord,’ I said, ‘I do not know how to speak; I am too young.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord’” (Jeremiah 1:4-8 NIV). Jeremiah would only overcome insecurity if his identity was rooted in God. The same applies to you.
2. Don’t compare yourself with someone else. You are unique or special, not a duplicate of anyone. Embrace who you are. When people measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:12). Be yourself; don’t compare yourself with anyone or others. Miriam and Aaron made this mistake (Numbers 12:1-2). God punished Miriam despite being Moses’ sister and Aaron, his brother.
3. Relate to others in love and don’t be envious of anyone. Love is the greatest commandment: Love God and others. Walk in love towards others (Ephesians 5:2; 1 Peter 4:8; Romans 13:9-10; Philippians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3). Love does not envy (1 Corinthians 13:4). Don’t be jealous or envious of anyone (Galatians 5:26). The religious leaders arrested Jesus out of envy (Matthew 27:18; Mark 15:10). Nobody’s destiny is superior to yours or a threat to yours. Love everyone, including your enemies (Luke 6:27).
4. Acknowledge that we all have different gifts and use your gifts while others use theirs. Our destinies are different. Our assignments on earth are not the same and God gave us different gifts based on our assignments (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Understand that being different doesn’t mean being better. We need each other. People need you and don’t deny them the blessing you are supposed to be to them just because of insecurity.
5. Admit that one person knows or can do everything, and do what you can and let others do what they can. Don’t feel threatened by or inferior to anyone. Each person has been given a portion to accomplish and we are to complement, not compete. What is true of the diversity of gifts and roles in the church is also true of society (1 Corinthians 12:14-30).
6. Celebrate yourself and others. Don’t try to be a perfectionist; nobody is perfect. Imperfection is part of humanity. Admit that everyone makes mistakes and don’t condemn yourself if you made a mistake or missed something. Give yourself another chance. Acknowledge the good things in you; celebrate yourself.
Don’t let envy or jealousy make you not acknowledge the good in others, too. Celebrate them on their success or accomplishment. Their success doesn’t mean you are a failure. Your turn for people to celebrate you will come. Philippians 2:3 says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself” (NKJV).
John the Baptist was secure; He celebrated Jesus (John 3:27-31). He also spoke highly of Jesus in John 1:26-27. Similarly, Jesus commended John the Baptist in Matthew 11:7-11.
7. Move away from negative people. Distance yourself from those who say or do things that make you feel insecure. Associate with positive people – those who love you, believe in you and encourage you to be your best, not judgmental people. Paul said, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). He also said in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing” (NLT).
8. Seek spiritual or professional help. To overcome your insecurity, you may need spiritual or professional help. Pray to God, but don’t be ashamed to seek help if it is difficult to overcome your insecurity. Talk to your Pastor who will help you with prayer, the Word of God, and counselling. A professional therapist can also be helpful.
Conclusion: Everyone faces insecurity. It can cause low self-esteem, overconfidence, anxiety, stress, indecision, and depression. It can also destroy relationships, hinder destiny fulfilment, etc. Overcoming insecurity may take time. Start the journey and don’t give up.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner, and cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
