Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I'm Not Insecure! Am I?

For those of you who might not get that, if you have to ask the question, you probably are. Insecure, that is. I believe that it is the incredibly well-adjusted person -- the exception to the rule even -- who is not at least a little insecure. Am I doing enough to keep my job? Do they like me? Does he love me? Are they laughing at me over there? Our insecurities evidence themselves in so many ways: ego-centric questions, anger, self-pity, worry, ulcers, high blood pressure, headaches, anxiety, bitterness, distrust, heart attacks, stomach disorders, etc. I could go on and on and on and on and on. Any improper behavior and almost any medical disorder could be traced back to our insecurity. Are you overweight? Chances are you eat too much in an attempt to compensate. Do you have problems sleeping? Chances are you cannot stop wondering if people really love you. Do you bite your fingernails? Chances are you are insecure in some way. I'm not a psychologist and I don't remember if I have ever stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, but I have had my share of opportunities to observe human behavior and come to some conclusions that I believe are correct: people everywhere are insecure.

Where does it come from? Childhood? Adolescence? Young adulthood? Yes to all of these. It could be you did not experience unconditional love as a child. It could be that you were never good enough in the eyes of parents, teachers, or friends. It could be that someone hurt you with unkind words or actions. It could be that one of the most important people in your life betrayed you or left you. It could be that you didn't get something you wanted in life. There are probably as many possible reasons as there are symptoms. Counselors everywhere are determined to make people talk about their life experiences in the hope that people will recognize the root cause and overcome whatever imagined deficiency has brought their clients to this time in life. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it seems to work for a little while, and then we find ourselves right back where we started.

So what is the answer? If I wanted to be mean, I would say something like this: "If you deserved to know, I would tell you." But that would probably not help you out. So let me give you the answer: "For God so loved (your name here) that He gave His only begotten Son, that if (your name here) believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life." Do you see it? The Creator of the universe loves you unconditionally. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to pay the price so that you could live forever with Him. Then, on top of that, Jesus says, "I come that (your name here) may have life and have it more abundantly." He says, "If no one else loves you, I do. If everyone else betrays you, I never will. If you cannot trust anyone else, you can trust Me." So stop worrying. Stop overeating. Stop biting your fingernails. Stop stressing out. Stop being insecure because you are good enough. You are worth loving. You are important to the Most Important One in the world.

Merry Christmas! Thank you, Jesus.