The holidays can be hard on a person’s spirit. While for some it can be a time where they can splurge, and party, and go above and beyond it can also be a time where some will find their insecurities have come out of hiding. Insecurities about hosting the holidays, Christmas party attire, baking skills, or even the cost of gifts on a tight budget. The list can go on and on. Today I want to encourage those people who are struggling…because I have recently found myself there too.
I am a pretty insecure person. I used to be better at hiding it…or so I thought. But I don’t want to hide it! I want to overcome those insecurities, put them in check, and move on! Who’s with me? {insert high kick and karate chop here}. So here are a few ways I have learned to overcome these insecurities during the holiday season.
Something Blake and I practice when we are struggling with feeling down is to list out things we are thankful for. Here are some recent examples for me. I’ll put the negative thought first and then the praise following.
· I wish my house was big enough to host a holiday with my family comfortably…….but Lord I am so thankful that I have a home that is big enough to host Life Group! A group that we host several weeks throughout the year, building marriages and friendships, and helping couples walk out a Godly Marriage! That’s a big deal! Yes! God, you have given me a big deal house! #blessed
· I wish I could participate in the Secret Santa, the Angel tree, and other fun holiday things but we just don’t have the budget for it….but Jesus I am so thankful for the ministries we support throughout the year. That to show the love of Jesus is not just pinned to one time of the year! And Lord, I praise you for my crafty ability to make sweet, loving, homemade gifts when my budget runs tight! #blessed
· I wish I had a job that paid more and was more challenging…but God, I know you have me here for a reason and that reason isn’t about money. I am thankful for my job, the people I work with, and the amazing benefits my company provides! This job will provide a bright future for me and my family even if I can’t see that fully now. #blessed
I feel sometimes when I say things like the above out loud it shuts my mind up. How does your dialogue look? Repeat it a few times if you need to and anytime you have that negative thought creep in, that jealous (if we’re being honest) desire bubble up, just turn it around and praise the Lord for your situation! All things are used for God’s glory…even the smallest things that we find ourselves grumbling about.
Let me also encourage you in this. While the above is quite helpful, there is more we can do than making verbal statements on the blessings of our reality. We can turn to scripture to encourage us and remind us of God’s promises! I mean, His words are legit! True to the bone! We just can’t deny them! Try looking up scripture that can encourage you through this time.
Recently Blake and I were preparing for Life Group and I was asked to read the passage below. I find so much comfort in this passage concerning my “lack” (lack of perspective is more like it) of abilities to do things during the holiday’s.
The Lord says this in the NLT version of Matthew 6:19-34,
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.23 But when your eye is bad, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Isn’t that just AWESOME? Which parts really spoke to your heart?
Girls, let’s not forget that prayer is fail-proof! Isn’t that lovely? We can take what we want to Him and he will honor the desires of our hearts! So let me pray for us today!
Jesus, we thank you for today! We thank you Lord for all things even if they seem bleak to us. We thank you for our struggles, our situations, and the ability to use these for your glory. We ask God that you would bring comfort to our hearts during this time. Help us to be creative in our gift giving and party hosting. Let us always have an attitude of thanksgiving and praise! In Jesus name, Amen
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