You might think that biblical heroes always stood firm and never wavered in their faith. Truth is, the Scriptures are filled with the stories of insecure Bible characters, and Bible verses about insecurity reveal just how deeply they wrestled with doubt and fear.
And, since the more things change, the more they stay the same, we can learn a lot about dealing with our own insecurities by looking at Bible verses about insecure people. It’s tempting to think our technology and innovations have somehow given us immunity from insecurity. But an honest evaluation reminds us that we can be just as insecure as many of the men and women we read about in God’s Word.
Insecurity has always been a part of the human condition, so a Bible study on insecurity makes a lot of sense.
The Struggle Is Real
If I’m perfectly transparent with you, I struggle with insecurity in the form of “imposter syndrome.” I always wonder if I have what it takes to measure up. I wonder when someone’s going to pull back the curtain and reveal me for the fraud I feel I am. That’s why I need regular doses of biblical truth when it comes to battling insecurity.
Your struggles may take a different form, but they are just as real and just as intense. That’s because all of us wrestle with a sin nature—and it’s done a lot of damage.
Think of it this way: Aside from Jesus, only two people in human history have known what it’s like to live without sin for even a brief period of time. In Genesis 1:26-27, God created Adam and Eve in His own image. What’s more, His expectations for them were clear, and their fellowship was genuine. Nothing got in the way, and they enjoyed a close relationship with their Maker.
But sin destroyed all that. The peace and security that had been the order of the day in Eden evaporated. As a result, we’ve been left wondering if we’re good enough and questioning the motives of others ever since. As I said, insecurity is part of the human condition, and that’s because sin is also part of the human condition.
Which is why God gave us plenty of narratives about how insecure Bible characters learned to trust Him more.
Our Weapon Against Insecurity
God has given us His Word to help us break free from the prison of insecurity. He has given us the stories of insecure Bible characters to remind us that we are not alone. Others have walked this road and found a path through the emotional, mental, and spiritual chaos that insecurity breeds.
In the space below, we’ll examine ten Scriptures related to insecure people. Each of them battled the beast in one way or another. And each of them discovered that true peace and contentment is found only in a strong, personal relationship with God.
But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” – Exodus 3:11
Like me, Moses struggled with imposter syndrome. After forty years herding sheep in the wilderness, the palace of Egypt was a distant memory. So, he was more than a little skeptical when God called him to return to Egypt and lead Israel out of bondage. At one point, he even urged God to enlist someone—anyone—else for the job! But he finally obeyed, and his obedience was the first step in a journey with God that transformed his life and crushed his insecurity.
Barak said to [Deborah], “If you will go with me, I will go. But if you will not go with me, I will not go.” – Judges 4:8
Barak was minding his own business until Deborah, the local prophetess, gave him a message from God. Like Moses, the Lord had a big job for him—defeating what seemed like an invincible army. And, like Moses, Barak’s initial response was to balk. This insecure Bible character didn’t want to go it alone. He preferred avoiding risks. So, he promised to go if Deborah went with him. He lost some of the glory from the victory because of it, but he did learn that God can be trusted to do what He says He will do.
[Gideon] said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? Look, my family is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s family.” – Judges 6:15
How would you feel if God called you a valiant warrior? Well, if you were Gideon, you’d reply with the equivalent of “Yeah, right!” God saw Gideon’s potential (Judges 6:12), but Gideon’s fear and personal insecurity meant all he could see were obstacles. What Gideon didn’t realize—and what we often forget—is that the battle doesn’t belong to us. God’s in control, which means we can afford to embrace His opinion of us. Even when we feel like failures, His perspective is what really counts.
“Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,” she answered, “for the Almighty has made me very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. – Ruth 1:20-21
Our English translations sometimes struggle to convey the depth of Hebrew and Greek in the Scriptures, including Bible stories about insecure people. In this case, you need to understand the Hebrew wordplay between the names “Naomi” and “Mara.” Naomi means “pleasant,” while Mara means “bitter.” Over the course of a decade, Naomi had moved away from home, lost her husband, lost two sons, and adopted a foreign daughter-in-law. Nothing had gone as expected, and her insecurity felt like bitterness in her soul. She was discouraged and empty. Thankfully, across the pages of her story with Ruth, she stopped blaming God for her situation and remembered His grace and mercy. As a result, she got the chance to bounce an ancestor of the Messiah on her lap (Ruth 4:13-17).
He entered a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.” – 1 Kings 19:9-10
Sometimes, our greatest triumphs are preludes to our deepest insecurities. That’s where Elijah found himself. After standing toe-to-toe with an evil king and calling fire down from heaven in 1 Kings 17–18, a queen making threats she couldn’t back up sent him on the run in chapter 19. He felt alone, and he felt abandoned. Elijah tried to find security in a cave, but God gently reminded him that He was the prophet’s only true cure for insecurity. When we hit rock bottom, He is still the answer we need more than anything or anyone else.
There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to [Jesus] at night. – John 3:1-2
Scholars believe Nicodemus could have come to Jesus at night for a lot of reasons. He may have been busy during the day with his duties as a Pharisee. Or he had a better chance of meeting with Jesus one-on-one in the evenings, away from the crowds that surrounded the Lord during the day. But it’s hard to get past the possibility that Nicodemus’s insecurity—his fear of what others might say or think—led him to visit Jesus at night. Whether or not that was Nicodemus’s primary motivation, it provides a good lesson for us. Too often, we let the reactions of others define our actions. When we do, we let insecurity win instead of resting in the confidence we should have in our Savior.
“I don’t have a husband,” she answered. “You have correctly said, ‘I don’t have a husband,’” Jesus said. “For you’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” – John 4:17-18
During a rest stop in Sychar, Jesus initiated a conversation with an anonymous Samaritan woman at the town’s well (John 4:1-9). Through their back and forth, we learn that she had been married five times and currently was living with another man. While our minds naturally turn to immorality, this lady may have been suffering from insecurity caused by rejection. By Jewish law (which the Samaritans generally accepted), only a man could divorce a woman, so she had been sent packing five times. And, in a male-dominated society where women were often seen as second-class citizens, it’s possible that her living arrangement was more about survival than sexual gratification. Rejection—genuine or perceived—spawns insecurity. Jesus helped the woman at the well discover full acceptance in Him, which is our only hope for peace of mind and security.
Now when John heard in prison what the Christ was doing, he sent a message through his disciples and asked him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” – Matthew 11:2-3
If you were making a list of insecure Bible characters, John the Baptist probably wouldn’t be top of mind. After all, he was sort of a man’s man. He lived in the desert, ate bugs, and challenged authority. But Matthew 11 reminds us that he was also human, which means he was subject to insecurity. After spending time in prison, he sent messengers to Jesus, basically to ask, “Did I miss something here?” He was struggling and looking for answers to some serious questions. Insecurity will leave you with more questions than answers. Thankfully, John knew exactly where to turn, and Jesus knew exactly how to reassure him.
But [Thomas] said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” – John 20:25
Thomas has been labeled a “doubter.” Sure, he had the other disciples telling him about the resurrected Savior, but he’d been disappointed before. He wasn’t going to let that happen again. So, in his insecurity, he used skepticism as a defense mechanism. To his credit, he made good on his words once seeing became believing. After he encountered Jesus in person, he humbled himself. Security rooted in our relationship with Christ allows us to be humble. And it allows us to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12
On the surface, Timothy had all the makings of a great leader. His upbringing was solid, and his spiritual gifts were evident (2 Timothy 1:5-6). Plus, he had been mentored by the apostle Paul, who put him in charge of a local congregation. But, in his own mind, Timothy had one obstacle that was hard to overcome: He was young. The Greek word used in verse 12 suggests a lack of experience and the need for further maturity. He just didn’t think he was ready for the job. Paul challenged Timothy to reject the negative voices that told him he couldn’t do it—including the voices in his own head. God had called him, and God would equip him to succeed. When that’s the case, insecurity doesn’t stand a chance!
Fighting Your Own Battle
To this point, you’ve looked at 10 insecure Bible characters—and what they learned about themselves and God. But what about you? You still may be wrestling with similar issues, and you’re not sure how to respond. If so, here are three truths worth some deep consideration (and the Bible verses to go with them):
• Don’t worry. Trust Jesus – Philippians 4:6-7. Give your concerns to Him with a sense of gratitude, and He will give you a peace that goes farther than you ever could imagine.
• Remember how much Jesus cares for you – 1 Peter 5:6-7. Peter told his readers to cast all their cares on Jesus for one simple reason: He cared for them. He still cares for His people, and we still find security in Him.
• Don’t let fear keep you from coming to Jesus – Hebrews 4:15. The anonymous writer of Hebrews said that Jesus serves as our High Priest in heaven. He also said we should come into His presence with boldness because He really wants to hear what’s on our hearts.In simple terms, a lack of security suggests a disconnect between who Jesus is and who we think He is. When that’s the case, we’re always the ones who need to adjust. So, if you’re struggling with insecurity, bring your concerns, failures, and fears to Jesus. He will never turn you away, and He will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
