In my opinion, insecurity is a type of pride or, at least, it leads to being prideful. However, we often act like being insecure or negative about ourselves is humility. When insecurity is actually believing that you are too great to accept, in a healthy way, that you have weaknesses and flaws.
I'm very prideful in both the traditional way and through being insecure. I hate most pictures of myself, including the one above (this was the best of the three from the bunch), and would normally never share them with anyone. My insecurity wants to make sure I look prettier than others.
I'm also terrible at bowling. Like I'm quite sure I'm one of the worst to ever play a game. If someone invites me, I will probably refuse. The embarrassment of having others kindly try to help me, yet, still failing is super painful.
Instead of just allowing insecurities to create pride in me and give me a desire to feel negatively about others to make me think better of myself, we need to be okay with having limits and flaws.
Pride and insecurity, I would say, are the most common reasons we judge others. When we’re focusing on ourselves and the situations we’re facing, more than we are God, pride can easily slip into our thoughts and desires, resulting in us being judgmental.
Pride is a sin. In fact, Proverbs says that it’s the plow or, in some translations, lamp of the wicked. Pride is what prepares and leads the wicked. Alternately, Jesus describes himself to be humble in heart. He doesn’t act like He’s better than people – even though He very much is, He served others during His time on earth, and was obedient to God to the point of dying for a bunch of sinners. 2 Corinthians tells us not to be insecure about our weaknesses, but to be content in them. Paul goes on to encourage us that God’s grace is sufficient despite our limits and flaws; and, because of that, God’s power is revealed.
Three steps to overcome pride and insecurities are: First, focus on Jesus. Peter became insecure because he was too focused on his own abilities and the situation – the storm and large waves – around him. Focusing on Jesus reminds us of two things: that it’s through His power, not our own, that we can do the things He’s calling us to and that He, as God, is humble. Second, surrender to Jesus. To begin with, we need to surrender both our struggles with pride and insecurity to Him, it’s the only way we can overcome them. Then we also should surrender our tasks, responsibilities, and our abilities to him, since He’s why we have them. Third, give all glory to God. Ultimately, our plan for any task or activity should be to honor and glorify God. This could happen by us verbalizing to others that God is the reason for the outcome or even by letting God’s power be revealed through our weaknesses.
Here’s what will happen if you continue in your pride: You’ll be brought down – God doesn’t do this just to discipline you, but to encourage you to reach out to Him. You can’t truly represent God’s love – His love is kind and isn’t selfish or boastful. You’ll miss out – God often uses the humble to do great things, because those who are proud will most likely take the credit for themselves.
God’s Guidance:
Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV) – ““Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Proverbs 21:4 (ESV) – “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) – ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.””
Philippians 2:3-8 (NIV) – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIRV) – “God has shown me amazing and wonderful things. People should not think more of me because of it. So I wouldn’t become proud of myself, I was given a problem. This problem caused pain in my body. It is a messenger from Satan to make me suffer. Three times I begged the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So I am very happy to brag about how weak I am. Then Christ’s power can rest on me. Because of how I suffered for Christ, I’m glad that I am weak. I am glad in hard times. I am glad when people say mean things about me. I am glad when things are difficult. And I am glad when people make me suffer. When I am weak, I am strong.”
Matthew 14:28-31 (NIV) – ““Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?””
Galatians 6:12-14 (NIRV) – “Some people are worried about how things look on the outside. They are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do it for only one reason. They don’t want to suffer by being connected with the cross of Christ. Even those who are circumcised don’t obey the law. But they want you to be circumcised. Then they can brag about what has been done to your body. I never want to brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross the ways of the world have been crucified as far as I am concerned. And I have been crucified as far as the ways of the world are concerned.”
Psalms 18:27 (NLT) – “You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.”
1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV) – “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (NIV) – “Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.””
Application:
1. Surrender to God your pride, insecurities, and any situation coming up that might increase your struggle with pride
2. Talk to God about what it might look like for you to be content in your weaknesses, so that His power can shine through them
3. Set up a reminder that focusing on yourself can limit the result of a task and leads to pride; whereas, focusing on Jesus makes the miraculous possible and leads to humility
Strength Point:
Pride leads us into sin and evil, but we can live a humble life full of love and gentleness if we just let Jesus teach us.
Song of the Week:
Reflection Question:
Do you believe that insecurity is connected to pride?
Prayer Prompt:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being the perfect picture of humility. Even in all Your power, majesty, and __, You chose to die for me. I’m sorry for being prideful, especially when I desire to be or think that I’m __ than __. Replace the pride inside my mind and heart with love, peace, and __. As with so many other sins, God, I know pride leads to more sin struggles like judging others, and I want to stop it. Give me both the strength and endurance to throw away my pride. Help me to understand the difference between confidently living out my identity in You and being prideful about myself and what I can do, and know that the main one is who I’m giving the glory to in the end. Remind me to not think, speak, or treat myself negatively, for You showed through Your life that those aren’t the ingredients to being humble. Thank You for being humble in Spirit, Jesus. I’m in awe that Your gentleness embraces me. I love You, Lord! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, amen.
A Prayer to Pray over Others:
Hi Jesus! Thank You for being the perfect picture of humility. Even in all Your power, majesty, and authority, You chose to die to give us the opportunity to be saved from our sins. Help my friend to not be prideful, but to run from the desire to be and thought process of being better than someone else. Replace any pride inside their mind and heart with love, peace, and gentleness. As with so many other sins, God, we know pride leads to more sin struggles like judging others – create a desire in my friend to want to stop it. Give them both the strength and endurance to throw away their pride. Help my friend to understand the difference between confidently living out their identity in You, and being prideful about their self and what they can do, and know that the main one is who they’re giving the glory to in the end. Remind them to not think, speak, or treat their self negatively, for You showed through Your life that those aren’t the ingredients to being humble. Thank You for being humble in Spirit, Jesus. I’m in awe that Your gentleness embraces us. I love You, Lord! In Your Name, Jesus, I pray, amen.
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