10 bible verses and tips to fight insecurity

Insecurity is typically a really big challenge for me (as you might know if you’re a longtime reader).

I fear saying the wrong thing, doing the wrong thing, and basically anything that will affect what people think about me.

It shakes me to the core thinking that someone is upset with me, or thinks I’m stupid or ridiculous.

In public, it comes out as social anxiety.

It can even affect me physically, anywhere from feeling tense to breathing issues to full-out panic attacks.

On the flip side (or maybe along the same lines?), security is one of those things I really admire in other people.

It amazes me when friends can enter a room and immediately start conversing with anyone, feeling comfortable in any situation. It stands out to me when someone can express themselves easily, whereas I second-guess myself over and over.

Insecurity can feel like a prison, holding me back from truly being myself and feeling like I’m valuable or worthy.

However, that’s not God’s plan for us. In fact, insecurity doesn’t come from God at all.

Read that again. Insecurity does not come from God. He doesn’t intentionally make us feel guilty or low or less-than. Those lies come from someone else, someone who speaks lies as his native language. 

No, God designed us especially to be who we are. We are “holy and dearly loved” (Colossians 3:12 NIV), and “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14 NIV). We can be confident before him (Ephesians 3:12), and we are being made competent for the plan he has for us (Philippians 1:6). 

When I find myself getting sucked into speaking negatively to myself or overthinking the wrong things, I need to be reminded of how God sees me. This group of scriptures is meant to be a resource of truth to confront the lies, and promises to grow hope and encouragement. 

Here are some Bible verses to fight insecurity in your everyday life.

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“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” – Proverbs 10:9 NIV

“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” – Proverbs 29:25 NIV

“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” – 2 Corinthians 3:4-5 NIV

“This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:17-18 NIV

“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” – 2 Samuel 22:31-33 NIV

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night, my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure…” – Psalm 16:5-9 NIV

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23 NIV

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV

“The fruit of [God’s] righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.” – Isaiah 32:17 NIV [word added by author for context]

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So what do all of these scriptures indicate to me?

• Opportunities for insecurity – real or in my mind – are definitely always going to be around.
• But our worth, value, righteousness, and competence come from God. We are just who he wants us to be. He does the work to make us whole and complete, and shines through us for his glory. Insecurity is not something I have to rid myself of – I just need to trust God is doing his job.
• Along with trusting him, I also need to obey him and walk with him.
• Finally, there are such amazing things that come out of this relationship with God – safety, confidence, perfect love, strength, a delightful inheritance, joy, power from God, refreshment, comfort, fruit, and peace.

Lastly, all of these things are easier to say than to do. But these scriptures give us some great practical applications that can help us along the way:

• Walk in the light. Insecurity makes us want to hide and stay in our sin, not be more vulnerable and open; but to live like that means to constantly be fearful and anxious. Finding people with whom we can be real and get help actually keeps insecurity from ruling in our hearts!
• Care about what God thinks, not what man thinks. Again, easy to say, less easy to do. But 2 Corinthians 10:5 says that we can “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” We can anticipate that pattern of thinking, and take steps (like prayer and scripture) to fight against it.
• Consider all the things to be grateful for. Gratitude keeps my perspective in check, helping me to remember all God has done for me, rather than comparing myself to others. Think about it this way – where gratitude keeps me fulfilled in God, comparison and jealousy keep me enslaved to what people think. (Even people I don’t know on social media – guilty!)
• Walk with God, instead of running to him in case of emergency. I can have such a hard time with this! Instead of choosing to take time with him every day, and take advantages of opportunities to talk with or listen to him, I can hold out until I “really need” him, and then rush to him out of fear. But I love this picture of the tree in Jeremiah 17 that reminds me of a steady, quiet, consistent living in God. It brings about peace and closeness, not panic or distance.

Guys, I’m writing this post to me. I haven’t achieved these things in my own life, but it helps me to study it out and get it all down. (God knows it too, because this is the second time I’ve had to write this post, after it didn’t save earlier!) And I hope it is helpful for anyone else out there who has similar struggles.

So what about you?

Do you battle insecurity? What helps you – scriptures, resources, or practicals – to overcome insecurity?

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Scriptures are quoted from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.