Everywhere we turn we hear messages about who we should be.
Whether it’s our relationship status, the car we drive, or our body shape, images of perfection are all around us.
Many of us face a barrage of critical voices too.
People have opinions about the way our home looks, how our kids behave, and how we perform at work. It’s easy to feel inferior.
So how do we overcome this?
We need to base our security on a firmer foundation.
Something that doesn’t shift, change or move.
That foundation should be God’s standards, NOT the standards of others.
God’s standards never change (Malachi 3:6, Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17).
They aren’t flawed—in fact, God even uses our flaws.
His standards come with a dose of mercy, grace, and forgiveness, so when we don’t meet the standards we can know that God will not write us off (Psalm 86:5, Psalm 145:8, Ephesians 2:4, Hebrews 4:16).
We can just get right back up and start again.
So how can we adopt new mindsets when it comes to insecurity and perfectionism?
The old computer phrase “garbage in, garbage out (GIGO)” rings true. If we’re constantly feeding on what everyone else tells us we should be, we won’t ever be able to be who God created us to truly be.
Why not reduce your intake of the things that make you feel inferior, whether on screens or IRL?
We need to learn to draw boundaries and say “no” when the expectations of others are too high. You are not Super(wo)man.
Sometimes the standards of others are wrong or flawed. Many build successful businesses and lives without a formal degree. Even in the Bible, Jesus’ disciples were from a variety of backgrounds, and many people God used had no special training.
The standards of others are always changing. The reality show Project Runway said it perfectly… “One day you’re in, the next day you’re out!” Why try and compete?
We, too, have unrealistic expectations of others. We need to do some self-examination. Sometimes we dislike the things in others that we are doing ourselves!
We need to stop comparing ourselves to others. We feel inferior when we measure ourselves against the standards of others.
We need to realise Satan will ALWAYS lie and tell us that we aren’t enough. We need to realise that God makes up our differences. When we aren’t enough, He fills the gap. His grace makes up for our weaknesses… “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Jerry Maguire lied. Only God can complete us. “And in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” Colossians 2:10 (NASB)
We need to realise we are completely able with Christ. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) and “But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”” Mark 10:27 (NKJV)
Lastly, we need to get familiar with the RIGHT standards.
We need to spend regular time reading our Bibles and getting familiar with God’s standards. We also need to forgive ourselves when we don’t measure up…because God already did.
God bless you,
Ali
It's a God thing... 
Amen!
Amen to that. After following Christ all these years ( 30+) , what God says through His word through the Holy Spirit confirms his sovereingty . His word matters much . The opinions of man do not rate .
Absolutely, Mark. May we continue to remember how important God’s word is, when there are so many opposing voices.
God will not write us off.
So encouraging.
Amen.
This is beautiful Ali! God does in the end extract the most precious beauty from the failures that we bring upon ourselves being of the fallen nature, and, nothing we do can save us outside of turning to Him our Lord and Savior with humble and broken heart to plead our cases to Him alone, who loves us beyond our earthly comprehension of love, because He does know our hearts and sees the precious spark of purity deep in our cores, the original innocence; and those that don’t turn to Him or are truly rebellious and want to transgress Him will receive their just rejection from Him on their judgment day. He makes it so plain and simple for us that we can’t lose or shouldn’t!
Wonderful outreach faith article here which I have to read again to fully contemplate and absorb all of its depth and truth! The photo is so beautiful also; in fact so much I had to copy it for my own archive to gaze upon it for added inspiration anytime! Thank you for this compelling and touching explanation but most importantly the inspiration, which got to me! All the scriptures hit home!
Brother in Christ Jesus,
Lawrence
We have to be who God created us to be. Sadly we want to change what God has created. Only to be more miserable then when we started. But that happens when we think we know more than GOD.
So true!
I looked at it again today from a fresh perspective and these were my new thoughts, I hope they do some good. A new comment notice came so here it was again in my view!