So they asked the LORD, “Where is he?”
and the LORD replied,
“He is hiding among the baggage.”
1 Samuel 10:22 NLT
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Inferiority Complex: “A persistent feeling of being inferior to other people (or specific tasks) in some way. It is usually connected with a real or imaginary shortcoming in physical appearance, intelligence, personality, education, social status or economic status.”
Who doesn’t experience those thoughts or emotions in at least one season of life?! I think I felt it for almost the entire four years of High School. I’ve seen insecurity act as an emotional cancer in many people’s lives. It starts with one small lie that’s easy to believe “I’m not smart enough” or “I’m not sexy enough” or “I’m not funny enough” and it grows exponentially into destroying a person’s entire value as a human. The interesting thing about it is it’s rooted in a feeling, not reality. Whenever I’ve felt inferior, it’s always been because of an imaginary standard I created in my own mind. It’s never been rooted in truth.
If it were rooted in truth, I would be asking God “What do YOU think of me?”
In the book of 1 Samuel, chapter eight, Israel had decided that they wanted a king – no more Judges. They wanted to be led by a king just like the other nations all around them. God told Samuel to grant their request and chose Saul, a young man from the tribe of Benjamin, to be Israel’s first king. When Samuel told Saul that he was to be Israel’s hope, Saul replied with insecurity and doubt:
“But I’m only from Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking to me like this? (1 Samuel 9:21 nlt)
Samuel eats with him, anoints him, and offers him unsolicited signs that this is an order from GOD, not man. Once Saul witnesses the signs, he is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins to prophesy! (You can’t get much more confirmation than this, right?!) But even with all this, on the day of Israel’s formal choosing ceremony, he was hiding when his name was called out of all the tribes of Israel.
“So they asked the LORD, ‘Where is he?’ And the LORD replied, ‘He is hiding among the baggage.” (1 Samuel 10:22 nlt)
He was hiding among the baggage. I couldn’t even believe my eyes when I read that! Isn’t that the epitome of what insecurity or fear of inferiority is – hiding among our [emotional] baggage?
When I fear that I am not enough, I need to recognize that I am stuck in a pile of my OWN BAGGAGE, not God’s truth. I need to stop hiding and stand tall in acknowledgement of who I truly am because of Jesus’ sacrifice: A Saved, Holy Child of God.
Challenge:
- Identify “baggage” that I let convince me of inferiority.
- With each acknowledgement, ask God for His forgiveness for believing I am less than He created me to be.
- Meditate on Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
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Dear LORD, you are perfect, almighty and true. You made me and you don’t make mistakes. I am so sorry for every time that I have let insecurity poison my heart. I have been jealous, impulsive and untrusting. Please create in me a clean heart, oh God. Renew a steadfast Spirit within me. Teach me to see myself through your eyes. Amen.
Amazing and inspiring! I needed that this week…
I am so excited to hear that God used me to impact your week! Thank you for taking the time to read & share your reaction!