Question 1

What can cause feelings of insecurity?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 28:26Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.Isaiah 47:8“Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure. You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other. I will never be a widow or lose my children.’”Luke 12:16-21He [Jesus] told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”Luke 18:9Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else.1 Corinthians 10:12If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.Trusting in ourselves rather than God can lead to feelings of insecurity.Psalm 60:11Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless.Psalm 118:9It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.Psalm 146:3Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.Proverbs 25:19Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.Isaiah 2:22Don’t put your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. What good are they?Isaiah 30:2-3“Without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade. But by trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated, and by depending on him, you will be disgraced.”Isaiah 31:3These Egyptians are mere humans, not God! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! When the Lord raises his fist against them, those who help will stumble, and those being helped will fall. They will all fall down and die together.Isaiah 36:6If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!Jeremiah 17:5This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.”Trusting in people to protect and provide for us can lead to feelings of insecurity.Deuteronomy 32:37“Then he [the Lord] will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?’”2 Chronicles 28:23He [Ahaz] offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, “Since these gods helped the kings of Aram, they will help me, too, if I sacrifice to them.” But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Judah.Psalm 115:4-8Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. They have hands but cannot feel, and feet but cannot walk, and throats but cannot make a sound. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them.Trusting in false gods can lead to feelings of insecurity.Psalm 49:6-7They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.Psalm 52:7“Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in God. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”Proverbs 11:28Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.Proverbs 27:24Riches don’t last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation.1 Timothy 6:17Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.Trusting in earthly possessions and wealth can lead to feelings of insecurity.

Question 2

How can feelings of insecurity affect my relationships?

Accepted Answer

Mark 12:29-31Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”Strong, loving relationships with people begin with our relationship with God. Knowing that he made and loves us gives us identity and security and enables us to love others. When we feel insecure about ourselves, we cannot love others as we should.Mark 9:34They [Jesus’ disciples] didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.Feelings of insecurity can lead to wanting to exalt ourselves, to feel important and needed. This then can lead to discontent, arguing, and broken fellowship.1 Samuel 18:7-9This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!” This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.1 Samuel 18:28-29When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.1 Samuel 19:1Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his close friendship with David, told him what his father was planning. “Tomorrow morning,” he warned him, “you must find a hiding place out in the fields. I’ll ask my father to go out there with me, and I’ll talk to him about you. Then I’ll tell you everything I can find out.”1 Samuel 20:30-31Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. “You stupid son of a whore!” he swore at him. “Do you think I don’t know that you want him to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother? As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!”Our feelings of insecurity can result in envying others to the point of seeking to harm them.

Question 3

How is God the solution to my insecurities?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 16:5Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.Psalm 20:7Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.Psalm 46:1-3God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!Psalm 91:1-2Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.Psalm 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Proverbs 14:26Those who fear the Lord are secure; he will be a refuge for their children.Isaiah 43:1-4Now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.”2 Timothy 1:12That is why I [the apostle Paul] am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.The word “insecurity” has two aspects in our contemporary usage: the first is insecurity in the face of life’s dangers and threats; the second is insecurity concerning our worth and value. Both are addressed by the promises of God. We find true security by trusting in God’s promises found in the Bible. We can trust our good, loving, and perfect God. Scripture is his infallible Word and his promises have always proven to be true. This means that the promises made to his people that are yet unfulfilled will come true. God promises that those who believe in him will have an eternal home in heaven where everything will be peaceful, happy, and stress free. We can have complete security and peace of mind that everything God says will happen.

Question 4

How should I deal with my feelings of insecurity?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 6:32-34“These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”To deal with feelings of insecurity, first we must realize that God knows all our needs and will provide for our well-being.Philippians 4:6-7Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.To deal with feelings of insecurity, we should bring our concerns to God in prayer with thanksgiving.Ephesians 3:16-20I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. . . . Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. . . . Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.Philippians 4:13I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.To deal with feelings of insecurity, we should rely on God’s power and trust his promises to provide for our needs.John 6:39“And this is the will of God, that I [Jesus] should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.”John 17:12“During my time here, I [Jesus] protected them by the power of the name you [the Father] gave me. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.”To deal with feelings of insecurity, we should trust God’s protection of our souls. Since we will all die one day, our bodies are not guaranteed protection, but our souls are secure; God will not let Satan snatch us away.Psalm 37:3-5Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.To deal with feelings of insecurity, we should read and learn to trust God’s promises.Isaiah 26:3You [the Lord] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!To deal with feelings of insecurity, we should focus on God and trust in him. Then we will experience God’s perfect peace.

Question 5

How can I prevent feeling insecure?

Accepted Answer

Psalm 40:1-2I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.Psalm 63:8I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.Psalm 125:1Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.Proverbs 1:33“All who listen to me [Wisdom] will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”Proverbs 18:10The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.Matthew 7:24-25“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”Romans 8:35-39Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? . . . No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Our security is based on God’s love and character; our response is to trust and obey. Trust is the basis for security, a confidence that we can count on certain things to be true. And who can be trusted more than God? Confident that God is sovereign and good and that all he says is true, we will believe we are secure in his promises and safe in his care.

Question 6

How can I help others feel more secure?

Accepted Answer

Ephesians 2:10We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.Ephesians 3:20All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.Philippians 1:6I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.To help others feel more secure, we can remind them that God loves them and is with them. He loves us so much that he sent Jesus to die for us, taking the penalty for our sins so we can have eternal life. He created each person as a unique individual, and he continues to work for us and in us.

Question 7

How can I find security in who I am?

Accepted Answer

Zephaniah 3:17“The Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”We can find security in who we are by remembering that God delights in us! Like a father and mother rejoicing in the birth of a child, a bride and groom rejoicing over each other, or best friends celebrating after years of separation, so the Lord exults over us.Matthew 5:13-16“You are the salt of the earth. . . . You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”God has made us the salt and light of the earth. He has given us the privilege of influencing this world with the message of his love and truth.Romans 8:15-16So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.We are God’s own children. When we let this truth drown out the false feelings of worthlessness, we find deep joy and lasting security.

Question 8

How does God protect me?

Accepted Answer

John 10:27-30“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”Our security comes from God’s hold on us, not our hold on God. Nothing can stand against his power, and his power is dedicated to helping those who love him.

Insecurity