That is what Pastor Byron Davis said yesterday morning at Lake Forest Church and I just loved it to itty bitty pieces! This small, seemingly insignificant quote got my brain moving in so many “insecurity related” directions. The truth is, he so right. This is not to say that people enjoy being around cocky people, I don’t believe that is true at all. But what I do believe is breathtakingly true is that people feel safe about themselves when they are with confident people.
When we are insecure we take the whole world down with us. It is as if we are drowning in insecurity and the only way to catch a breathe of air is push someone else down with us. Insecurity tears down, compares, envies, criticizes, judges, and condemns all in the name of maybe feeling a little bit better about yourself. I know for me insecurity has been a deceptive voice inside my head that says, “making them worse is the key to making you better.” I hate that voice. I hate that lie.
But a confident person…now that is what I am talking about! They are able to lift others up, give praise, adoration, and love because they don’t need anyone else to feel better about themselves. A person who loves themselves, as is, they don’t need to play the constant comparison game wondering if one day, just maybe, they will measure up. A confident, secure, and content person is life giving, able to pour out onto others unconditional love and praise.
It might sound trite at first to say this, but Jesus is my favorite example of this. Lots of people hated him. Even more people criticized His every move. The very people who He held dearest did nothing to protect Him from death. But Jesus cared about impressing one person and one person alone: His Heavenly Father.
It boggles my mind sometimes to think about how strong Jesus was, how much He endured physically and emotional. Of course it reminds me how weak I can be, but it also reminds me that I have His strength and His power that abides in me when I believe in Him. I need to remember that more often. I need to tap into Christ’s strength when I am not loving myself…worried about what others will think of my clothes, body, choices, hair, face, thoughts, words, house, car…
But if I love me, because Christ loved me first, then what’s not to love? Am I perfect? Not this lady, never. Do I adore every inch of my physical body? I try to. But I have finally come to the conclusion that I love myself. Sounds weird to say it, but I really do.
I think that Grandma’s are really smart women. They have stood the test of time and by the time you get to their age they say, “forget it with the nonsense!” I was talking with my Grandmother the other day and she said, “Maria for a long long time I held onto guilt about all the things in life I didn’t do well. All of my regrets and I held onto that guilt. But I got to a point in life where I decided to let that go and let myself believe that I was lovable. And I like who I am, Maria, I really do.” Grandma’s strength and sincerity draws me in, leaves me at peace, and frees up my worried brain onto more important things.
I am so thankful for the people in my life who love themselves, making it so easy to love them back. Do you have anyone in your life like that? Who are they?
Hebrews 10:24