safe and secure

I've been having some major insecurity flare-ups lately.  I put on a mask and hide behind a smile and never really deal with those sore spots.  It reminds me of putting a band-aid on a cut, but not taking care of it.  Cover it up and hope that it will go away on its own.  After 46 years, I am convinced that covering my insecurities is not helping them get better.  The time has come to take care of them so they can heal.  Healing will require exposing the lies that lead to the insecurities in the first place and replacing the lies with God's love and truth and grace.  Dealing with insecurities requires me to be real and open and honest with myself and with God.

How did I get here?  I think the devil plagues us with insecurities from the time we become aware of ourselves.  I remember being insecure as a child about how I looked and who I was and what I could and couldn't do.  So I have had these "sore spots" for most of my life.  The enemy brings people and situations into my life to irritate those spots and cause them to swell.  The pain and swelling keeps my attention and causes my thoughts to dwell on the insecurity until it grows into fear.  If I let fear run rampant, it becomes paralyzing.  And I withdraw and shut down.  Game over.  The enemy wins.

Not in my life...not anymore!  I'm done with losing this battle!  God and I are taking on the sore spots, one insecurity at a time.  Exposing the lies, speaking the truth, and receiving God's love and grace.  The enemy will not be able to shut me down any longer.  I am safe and secure in the arms of my Father God.