3 Ways of Overcoming Insecurity…Biblically

This morning I woke up and I was immediately filled with insecurity.  From the second my feet hit the floor, I was already battling doubts and anxious thoughts about a few things that had taken place the day before.  I hadn’t even had a cup of coffee yet and already I had to start overcoming insecurity.

GAH.

Feeling like we’re not enough.  Insecurity.  Guilt overload.  We’ve all been there.  Some of us (who shall remain nameless) are there more than others.  Ahem.  😉

Bottom line: insecurity steals peace.  From the get-go this morning, my mind was overtaken and I felt antsy.  Not an awesome way to start the day.  #canigetanamen

So how do we get unstuck from that place?  How do we overcome insecurity? When I’m there, I need a biblical plan of attack for my day, or else my mindset will spiral downward fast.  So that’s what I’m going to share with you today.  Let’s kick insecurity in the pants.

Journal it out.

I cannot stress enough the importance of reminding myself of my worth and value in God’s eyes when I start to feel forgotten, ignored, and insecure. Sometimes I just hear all the negative thoughts and they can completely take over my mind.  Being rooted in the truth of who I am to Him makes the doubt in my head go away.

So I write down all the crazy, anxious, worried thoughts I’m feeling and guess what? They lose their power once they’re out of my head.

Grab a cute journal and write it out.

Need a prompt for getting started?  Try this one: Who does He say I am?  Set a timer for 10 minutes and pour out your thoughts on paper without stopping to edit or overthink the words.  Just freewrite.  See what comes out.

Dig in: What does the Bible say?

On days like this, I need to cling to the promises in the Word so I can fight the lies filling my head.  When insecurity overtakes us, we need to remember His Word is TRUTH.  We can turn to it for reassurance and comfort!  I love that so much.

And good news…there are LOADS of verses assuring us that God loves us just as we are, and that we’re good enough.  Here are just a few.  I like to jot them down on index cards and keep them handy for those hard days.

1 Peter 2:9 (NLT)

⁴ Dear brothers and sisters, you are dearly loved by God and we know that he has chosen you to be his very own.

Hebrews 13:6 (TPT)

⁶ So we can say with great confidence:

“I know the Lord is for me
    and I will never be afraid of what people may do to me!”^[a]

1 John 4:16 (NLT)

¹⁶ We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

¹⁰ That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Get immersed: What resources will bring peace and truth to my mind today?

Since I struggle with feelings of insecurity a lot, I know I need to find resources that keep me rooted in Truth: that God loves me and that I don’t have to perform or live up to the world’s expectations.  I just have to keep my eyes on Him.  Here are a few ways I do that.

Books

I’m a book nerd.  Finding a comforting book to immerse myself in always helps. A couple of favorites for overcoming insecurity and doubt are “You Are Free,” by Rebekah Lyons and “Found” by Micha Boyett.  I don’t sit and read all day or anything like that (although getting lost in a good book is so super appealing on days like this!) – just thumbing through them and reading highlighted passages is a comfort to me.

Music

Listen.  As a SAHM, I feel like I’m surrounded by noise all the livelong day.  Silence is my jam because it’s STINKING RARE in my real life.

But.  On anxious days, I need calm music. I crave it.  It always, always soothes my soul. I love the Peace and Quiet and Instrumental Folk channels on Pandora.  They’re relaxing and always slow me down when my mind is spinning.  They just have a calming effect on my mental state. 

If I’m really trying to set a comforting atmosphere, I also brew a pot of tea and light all the candles.  It’s pretty much the perfect antidote for my upset mind.

Teaching

Sometimes what I need is a good kick in the pants from a powerhouse preacher or teacher.  I love to watch sermons by Steve Furtick and Judah Smith on YouTube. 

Listening to an encouraging podcast is another great way to cheer up. And checking out the latest from Beth Moore on Twitter is always, always, ALWAYS a good idea.

I’m obviously not an expert at battling anxious thoughts (hello, lifelong battle), but hopefully these tips can help you through your next moments of insecurity.

Do you have any tips for overcoming insecurity?