Have you ever picked up a book and knew after reading the first few chapters that the book was going to be life-changing? I have. In fact, I’m reading one right now. It’s called, So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore. It was written by a woman for women. It was written to help us fight our battle with something that can be our greatest set-back. Insecurity is defined by Nowinski as (as cited in Moore, 2010):
…a profound sense of self-doubt—a deep feeling of uncertainty about our basic worth and our place in the world. Insecurity is associated with chronic self-consciousness, along with a chronic lack of confidence in ourselves and anxiety about our relationships. The insecure man or woman lives in constant fear of rejection and a deep uncertainty about whether his or her own feelings and desires are legitimate.
Nowinski’s definintion of insecurity goes on to say (as cited in Moore, 2010):
The insecure person also harbors unrealistic expectations about love and relationships. These expectations, for themselves and for others, are often unconscious. The insecure person creates a situation in which being disappointed and hurt in relationships is almost inevitable. Ironically, although insecure people are easily and frequently hurt, they are usually unaware of how they are unwitting accomplices in creating their own misery.
Wow. And the book is quick to pinpoint that just because a woman looks like she has it all together does not mean she isn’t insecure. Moore goes on to write, “Most of us have what I’ll call a prominent false positive: one thing that we think would make us more secure in all things” (36). Your false positive might be a fabulous husband or beauty or financial success or credentials or youth (Moore, 38).
…a profound sense of self-doubt—a deep feeling of uncertainty about our basic worth and our place in the world. Insecurity is associated with chronic self-consciousness, along with a chronic lack of confidence in ourselves and anxiety about our relationships. The insecure man or woman lives in constant fear of rejection and a deep uncertainty about whether his or her own feelings and desires are legitimate.
Nowinski’s definintion of insecurity goes on to say (as cited in Moore, 2010):
The insecure person also harbors unrealistic expectations about love and relationships. These expectations, for themselves and for others, are often unconscious. The insecure person creates a situation in which being disappointed and hurt in relationships is almost inevitable. Ironically, although insecure people are easily and frequently hurt, they are usually unaware of how they are unwitting accomplices in creating their own misery.
Wow. And the book is quick to pinpoint that just because a woman looks like she has it all together does not mean she isn’t insecure. Moore goes on to write, “Most of us have what I’ll call a prominent false positive: one thing that we think would make us more secure in all things” (36). Your false positive might be a fabulous husband or beauty or financial success or credentials or youth (Moore, 38).
For years, I thought if I were famous someday, I would be happy and feel secure. One glance at the front cover of a gossip magazine in a grocery store aisle will tell you that fame in no way brings happiness or security. Another one for me is credentials. I grew up in a suburb where to earn a bachelor’s degree is expected, and then a Master’s degree and possibly a doctorate follow. I actually found University classes a walk in the park compared to my high school classes – no joke. And a good number of people I went to high school with already have a Master’s degree. Some have graduated from law school. Others are nearly done with Med school. It was the norm. Yet, I’ve watched as the advanced degrees don’t bring security. Don’t get me wrong, it is wonderful if you are called to receive an advanced degree. I don’t know that I am. If I did so, it would only be out of striving for something more. Many other times, I’ve thought, it we just had more money, I would feel more secure. Then people wouldn’t look down on me anymore for having to say no to so many things we can’t afford. But money doesn’t bring security either. In fact, problems caused by the love of money can multiply insecurity almost exponentially.
What is your “false positive” (Moore, 36)? Be honest with yourself. There must be one thing you feel you lack that you think could bring security for you. The book has a powerful prayer section that will help you renounce all of the causes of insecurity in your life as well as the ways you have acted out of insecurity instead of trusting God for security. Moore then goes on to write about solutions for lasting security. I would encourage every woman to get a copy of So Long, Insecurity. There is a website for the book where you can find out more information about it and watch a book trailer online. It is http://www.solonginsecurity.com/
God wants all of us to have security in Him. Beth Moore wants to tell us how to do so. Let’s bid farewell to insecurity.
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Works Cited
Moore, Beth. So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us. Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 2010. Print.
What is your “false positive” (Moore, 36)? Be honest with yourself. There must be one thing you feel you lack that you think could bring security for you. The book has a powerful prayer section that will help you renounce all of the causes of insecurity in your life as well as the ways you have acted out of insecurity instead of trusting God for security. Moore then goes on to write about solutions for lasting security. I would encourage every woman to get a copy of So Long, Insecurity. There is a website for the book where you can find out more information about it and watch a book trailer online. It is http://www.solonginsecurity.com/
God wants all of us to have security in Him. Beth Moore wants to tell us how to do so. Let’s bid farewell to insecurity.
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Works Cited
Moore, Beth. So Long, Insecurity: You’ve Been a Bad Friend to Us. Carol Stream: Tyndale House, 2010. Print.
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