Do you ever struggle with insecurity? Afraid to step out and say what you really think, because of how someone else might react?
It’s something I’ve struggled with for a long time, but it’s something the Father’s love has been ministering into in my life, and I thought it might bless you.
Years ago, someone shared something like this with me: they felt that I’m insecure, and lack in confidence, but God Himself will fill that gap.
The truth is that I am often afraid to speak out what I really think, in case the other person reacts negatively. It’s a battle I often fight: choosing the courage to speak out, even though the other person’s reaction might be negative.
I was praying into that recently, asking the Lord how I can deal with this. I mean, the reality is that the other person really might respond negatively. And that really will hurt. And I know I need to obey and speak out anyway, if there is something I feel the Lord is leading me to say.
But I asked the Lord if He can help me if that place of fear.
And I sensed the Lord encouraging me to look at this in Isaiah 41:
“But you, Israel, are My servant,
Jacob whom I have chosen,
The descendants of Abraham My friend.
You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
And called from its farthest regions,
And said to you,
‘You are My servant,
I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” Isaiah 41:8-10
These words, written to Israel, God’s servant, are true of me too. The Lord has chosen me. I am His servant. And He is with me. He is my God. He tells me not to be afraid or dismayed, because He is with me and He promises to strengthen me, help me and hold me up.
When I step out and face my fear, He promises to be with me. He promise to help me.
And I think that He wants me to tune in to His love: to focus on My Father’s love, instead of how the other person responds.
As I focus on His love, I will overcome.
As I was praying into this the other day, I felt drawn to Hosea 11, and I ended up writing a song based around some of it. It’s not finished yet, and some of the words may change (and they are only loosely based around Scripture, so some of them are my words, which don’t carry the same authority as God’s!). But the chorus is something like this, and the Lord has been using it to comfort me when I am afraid of speaking out. It’s like He wants to soothe me and hold me and heal me in that place of fear.
I will lead you in My cords of love
And I will lift that heavy yoke from off of you
And I will bend down to get closer to you
And I will feed you
I want to hold you
I will heal you in My love.
These are the encouraging verses from Hosea 11:
‘“I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by their arms;
But they did not know that I healed them.
I drew them with gentle cords,
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.
I stooped and fed them.”‘ Hosea 11:3-4
Loved by the Father, trusting in Jesus, following Him, I am surrounded by His love, and His love, comfort and protection are there to help me as I step out of my fear… and find Him meeting me with His grace. 🙂
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Caroline Abblitt 