Insecurity

INSECURITY

Definition: The tendency to feel fearful, anxious, unsafe; apprehension regarding present or future situations or circumstances.

1. We must learn to draw our security from the great stabilizers: Jesus and His Word.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Matthew 7:24,25 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.

Romans 8:35,38,39 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. We can’t look to the things of this world for our security.

Luke 12:19,20 [The rich fool trusted in his riches, but lost his life in one night] And I [the rich man] will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things Above, not on things on the earth.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

2 Peter 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and Godliness.

1 John 2:15a,17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. … 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

3. Insecurity often stems from over-concern for our physical situation or needs.

Matthew 6:25,26,28-33 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? … 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? Or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

4. Though human security and assurance may fall short, the Lord never fails.

[See Loneliness, #2]

5. Anywhere with Jesus, we can feel safe, secure and loved.

Genesis 28:15a And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goEsther

Proverbs 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goEsther

Psalm 125:1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

Psalm 139:7-10 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? Or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? 8 If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in Hell, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

[See also Loneliness, #1]

6. In Jesus we have unfailing confidence and assurance!

Psalm 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

Proverbs 3:26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Proverbs 14:26a In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence.

Isaiah 32:17 [Assurance comes from knowing we’re in the Lord’s will and doing our best to please Him] And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the Day of Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 1:12b For I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.

Hebrews 6:19a Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast.

7. In Jesus’ arms we have perfect security.

Deuteronomy 33:27a The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

Psalm 37:23,24 [Even when we fail, His loving care for us never fails] The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in His way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.

Isaiah 40:11a He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom.

Isaiah 41:13 For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Matthew 14:31 [When Jesus and Peter walked on the water, Peter eventually fell when he became doubtful and afraid, but Jesus was there to help him] And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

John 10:28 And I give unto them Eternal Life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

8. We can be channels of the Lord’s comfort and reassurance to one another.

Isaiah 40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God.

Colossians 2:2a That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding.

1 Thessalonians 1:5a For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these Words.

9. When tempted with feelings of insecurity, we need to keep our eyes Heaven-ward.

Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.

John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.