o you struggle with insecurities or low self-esteem? I think we all do, at least at times. The problem Christianity is facing today regarding this issue is unbiblical preaching on how to deal with insecurity. So many preachers today are really nothing more than motivational speakers. All they try to do is make everyone “feel good” about himself or herself. Some don’t even use Scripture, or at the very least just throw in a couple verses to give the appearance of preaching when all they are really doing is coddling a “poor me” mentality.
I am not demeaning the real struggle that comes when one has low self-esteem or insecurities. The pain they feel is real; the root cause for these painful conditions run deep. In addition to counseling in order to help uncover things from their past, or present, which may be reasons for such pain, a truly biblical look at the issue must also take place before there can be any kind of ultimate healing.
I want to take a very brief look at Psalm 27. I advise anyone reading this to stop right now and read that chapter, it’s not very long but it’s a bit lengthy for an article such as this. Please take a moment and read Psalm 27.
In my opinion, in addition to all of the passages that describe who we are in Christ, how God sees us through the lens of the work of Christ on the cross, Psalm 27 is the Bible’s greatest help for overcoming insecurity. As you probably noticed when reading it, the first half or so displays a confident attitude by the author, however, that confidence is based on the “humble reliance on God we find in the last half of the psalm.”[1] David’s public proclamation displayed with such boldness toward others was based on the private dependence he had on God. Let’s break up the psalm into four pieces and look at what it is David knew that gave him his security and a healthy self-esteem.
In verses 1-3 we see that “one thing” David knew was that the Lord was his light and salvation, in fact the Lord was the defense of his life. David faced many problems in his life, reading all of the Psalms make that very clear. However, his insecurities were counter balanced by his knowledge and faith that the Lord was his light, salvation, and defense. We would do well to keep this in mind ourselves.
In verses 4-6 we see that “one thing” David asked was that he would have the power to continue to abide, or live, in the presence of God. If we get it in our head that God is truly with us in life, if we live and act as though he is with us at all times, our insecurities should fade and our self-esteem should humbly grow.
In verses 7-12 we see that “one thing” David needed was powerful, consistent, effectual prayer. I know it almost seems cliché as prayer is always one of the solutions to any problem, but there’s a reason for that. The reason the Bible consistently instructs us to pray is because it works. It’s a hard discipline to be consistent with, but when we shed the idea of what everyone expects or defines prayer to be, we are free to truly pray and pray regularly. In other words, shake the idea you must “get right” before coming before God in prayer, you can’t “get right” without praying to Him. Other things like kneeling, crossing your hands, doing it first thing in the morning or the last thing at night, closing your eyes, etc., are not necessary ingredients for prayer. Just have a conversation with God and be honest. Pray in a boat while your fishing, pray while your driving; make Scripture reading a form of pray. It’s not the method that matters; it’s doing it that matters. The most powerful weapon in our arsenal against insecurities is prayer.
In verses 13-14 we see that “one thing” David did was to be strong and wait on the Lord. Being strong does not mean trusting in our own power. Being strong includes us fighting and doing our part, but it also means being strong by relying on the Holy Spirit. Don’t use the Spirit as an excuse to just “wait around,” that’s not what the passage means. Be strong, do what you can, don’t give up, and wait on the Lord for His timing for His timing regarding all things is perfect.
In conclusion, I hope these little tidbits help those of you who feel insecure and/or suffer from low self-esteem. They aren’t too deep, they’re not too demanding, and they’re not even very original, but they help. Add these to your battle and you will notice a significant difference. In fact, if you are troubled by insecurities in your life, it is wise to claim the truths of Psalm 27 for yourself. Make Psalm 27 “your” passage. It obviously helped David, and it can certainly help you as well.[2]
[1] Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2003. “One Thing,” author not listed, p.135.
[2] Some portions from this article were adapted from the source cited above.
