“You’re too much” and “You’re not enough” have something in common. They are both lies that we have been told throughout our lives from ourselves, the media, and the people around us. You can’t come off as too confident because people then think you are too prideful. Yet, you also can’t come off as too humble because then people assume you are insecure.
When I think about pride and insecurity, I think about a game of tug-of-war going on in our minds. Picture pride on the left, insecurity on the right, and you’re standing in the middle holding on for dear life. You find yourself getting yanked from side to side depending on how you feel about yourself that particular day.
Pride by definition means: a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements. The feeling of pride itself isn’t necessarily bad, but once the feeling becomes rooted in selfish ambition, you lose sight of God and the real problem begins.
Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves.”
On the other hand, Insecurity by definition means: uncertainty or anxiety about oneself. In the same way that unhealthy pride stems from selfish ambition, so does insecurity. When we rely on our own strength and ability, insecurity makes its presence known.
Whether you struggle with pride, insecurity, or both; these feelings are centered around the same thing: you!
When we find validation and worth in the works of ourselves and the feelings we have towards ourselves, we will never feel fully satisfied. You will continue to get pulled from pride to insecurity until you realize you’re not the one in control.
Humble yourself to understand that you exist because of our creator, God!
James 4:10 “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
Think back to our game of tug-of-war. If we were to hold onto the middle of the rope with no support, we will fall in the direction of whichever side pulls us harder, but when you insert the help of Jesus, we can stand firm.
Allow the confidence you have in yourself not to come from you, but from who you were created to be. From God, we not only receive confidence, but also strength, wisdom and patience to overcome the circumstances and situations that life throws at us. This is true humility; understanding that we can stand firm in our faith and trust God to be at the center of our existence.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who gives me strength.”
What areas of your life have you been allowing pride and insecurity to take over? How can you bring God into those areas this week?