One subject that pops up frequently in this blog (because it haunts me in the real world) is my insecurity. Especially around other women. Most especially around other church women.
They are rooted in very real hurts from my past, these insecurities of mine, so I don’t blame myself for struggling with them. Nevertheless, God has made it exceedingly evident that I need to lay them aside for my own well-being. They prevent me from forming meaningful relationships and leave me weak and alone against the schemes of the enemy.
I know what I have to do.
But how?
How do I stop comparing myself to the women around me?
How do I keep from coming up short every time I stand next to Heather, Maria, or Sarah?
How do I battle lies that are so entrenched in my thought patterns that I often don’t even recognize them for what that are?
I don’t have all the answers, ya’ll. But God has given me a little insight lately into one big weapon against my insecurity.
Prayer is a mighty weapon.
Not prayer that God help me see my own value and worth. Not prayers that I can forgive the women who’ve hurt me. Not even prayer that God quash my dangerous thought patterns. Those types of requests certainly have their place but, on their own, they have never been strong enough to win this fight.
And I’m beginning to see why. All those prayers revolve around me.
I’ve been desperately bringing those types of me-centered pleas before the throne for years. Change me. Heal me. Restore me. Create in me a clean heart and renew my mind.
It’s not that those petitions are wrong, mind you. They just weren’t getting to the real root of my insecurity.
Idolatry.
The heart of this battle was never about my view of me, but rather about my view of them.
Long ago, I erected an idol in my mind of the Christian Woman.
The Christian Woman found the time to blow-dry her hair before church. She and her childhood sweetheart and their well behaved brood of children arrived each Sunday with their clothes right side in and their shoes on the right feet. She taught Sunday school and sipped tea at ladies’ functions. She found the time to cart casseroles to potlucks, kiddos to soccer practice, and donations to the food-bank in her mini-van.
The Christian Woman’s worst regret was not buying that blouse on sale at Penny’s last month. Her biggest struggle was getting her home baked bread to rise. Her future was scheduled three months out with play dates and monthly bunco games.
Most of all, the Christian Woman was infinitely holier than I was. She never cussed in the sanctuary, ducked out of service midway for a smoke, or struggled with sexual sin. She had this whole walkin’ with Jesus thing down.
O yes, I erected that Christian Woman image and set her right up on an ivory pedestal- the pedestal of everything I’m not and everything I should be.
Then I tried to pray my way up there.
It. Didn’t. Work.
I needed a different kind of prayer. One that focused not on me and my issues but on the women around me. One that saw them not as idols but as humans. Prayers that focused on dismantling my idols and their pedestals instead of raising me up.
Quite by accident, I found it in intercessory prayer.
According to dictionary.com, the verb “intercede” is defined as, “to act or interpose in behalf of someone in difficulty or trouble, as by pleading or petition.”
The weapon I’m currently learning to use in this battle against my insecurity is desperate prayer on behalf of the very women I have always found so threatening.
Lord, bless her, heal her, restore her, protect her. Daddy, lift her head, encourage her heart, redeem her past. Father, strengthen her marriage, grow her ministry, breath life into her. God, turn her into a woman after your own heart.
Turns out it’s nearly impossible to idolize a woman I’m interceding for.
Because the more I pray, the more God opens my eyes to the humanity of those women I tried to guild in gold and set on high.
Wounded by a childhood of abuse. Paralyzed by anxiety. Sitting under a cloud of depression. Choked by bitterness. Struggling with sin. Overwhelmed, depleted, desperate.
In need of Jesus.
No more or less than myself.
Human.
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect. James 5:16, HCSB
I love this! My favorite part is when you said, “Turns out it’s impossible to idolize a woman I’m interceding for.” So good. Thank you for addressing this tough and very real topic. You are not alone. It’s a tough battle, but I believe this post gives us a great weapon and insight. Thank you!
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Thank you, Sarah!
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This is an incredible post! Thank you for writing from your heart and your experience!
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Thank you, Jamie!
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This is SO good!! For so many reasons! It is so easy to both put others on pedestals, and to focus too much on ourselves! Thank you for writing about this–if we all became better at intercessory prayer, I think we’d be better at loving each other as woman!
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Thank you, Melissa!
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Kate this is SO SO good. I’m holding onto this image: “Then I tried to pray my way up there.” Put it in my nerdy little quote book and saved this post. I stumbled into this same truth of interceding making my idols human awhile ago too, but I hadn’t quite stepped back to see it for what it is. Thank you for putting it into words and clarifying for me!
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Thank you, Bethany!
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Honored to be in your “nerdy little quote book”! 🙂
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No one is immune to these issues. This post can help all types of women in the church process their own insecurities and identify next steps to overcome them. Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you, Tiffany!
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Great post! Comparing myself to other women has been hard at times, and you’re right–it is idolatry. Intercessory prayer for other women has been helpful to me, too. You say it so well!
Heather Bock
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Thank you, Heather!
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This was great! So insightful and true. It’s hard to harbor bad feelings toward anyone we pray for. Thanks for this – really – thank you!
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I am so glad you found it useful! Thank you for reading and commenting, Lori!
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Thanks for your honest post. I also have a hard time not looking at other women around me and thinking they must have a perfect life.
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Isn’t it difficult? Thanks for reading and commenting, Brenda!
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Thanks for sharing this powerful perspective on dealing with insecurity and comparisons. Intercession breeds selflessness and humility.
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Exactly! Thank you for reading and commenting, Chioma!
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I LOVE this post! Like most women, I struggle with the idolatry of comparing myself to others. But when we realize that everyone has issues that we can’t see, it changes our perspective. I will be sharing this post!
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Yay! So glad you enjoyed it, Emily! Really appreciate the share.
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I just love your transparency, and I KNOW there are many who can relate to this- including ME! I surely struggle with idol worshiping and I LOVE the way your prayer life shifted and so did your perspective. It’s amazing how much pride is at the center of SO many of my issues and stretching out of myself to see what God intends me to see, makes a huge difference. Thank you for this beautiful post and message.
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I’m glad it struck a chord. I think insecurity is rampant among women, even those of us in the church who “should know better”. Thank you for reading and for you thoughtful comment, Chris!
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[…] via A Mighty Weapon in the Battle Against Insecurity — A Softer Shade of Red […]
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Wow this was powerful! Thank you for your transparency!
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Thank you!
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This. Just so much this! Perfect subject, perfect timing. Love you girl!!!
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Yay! Love it when God hits right where we’re at. Love you too!
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[…] A Mighty Weapon in the Battle Against Insecurity, A Softer Shade of Red […]
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Thanks for sharing!
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Reading this gave me the chills! It convicted AND healed me. God is using you in big ways!
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What an honor. Thank you for sharing that, Mandy!
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Thanks for your post, and reading my post earlier today. This post is really well-written, and I love the way you get at the heart of the issue where real change happens. As a guy, I know I can’t fully identify with everything you share here, but I definitely understand the temptation to compare myself to others. Praying for the people we’re comparing ourselves to is a great weapon as we try to keep our eyes on Jesus.
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You’re welcome. I thought you had some great wisdom! When I was single (14 years!) I was on the receiving end of some of the things you warned the gentlemen about and it stung. 🙂
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[…] Kate Redmon: A Softer Shade of Red […]
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Wow! How powerful and eye opening! Struggling with body issues all my life, I see how I had viewed fitness models and naturally thin women. feeling judged for not reaching their standard of perfection. This is such an important revelation that all women need. Pray for each other, encourage each other and know that we are all human with flaws and things we are going through. I pray for the hearts of all women to understand that we are precious to our loving Father!
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Amen!
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