I have a friend who once lived to work. He longed to stand out from his peers, using weeknights and weekends to learn, grow and advance in his role. This "nose-to-the-grindstone" approach paid off for years, as he rapidly climbed the corporate ladder. By early adulthood, he had achieved almost everything he wanted to achieve and held almost every job he wanted to hold. 

But then he came to a life-changing realization: buried beneath his confident facade was a man who lived in fear of failure. He craved success because he wanted friends and family to see him as a pioneer—as a brilliant mind who accomplished his wildest goals and dreams. He ultimately decided to step away from his career in order to face his insecurity.

Are you wrestling with fear and insecurity today?

Maybe, like my friend, you want others to see you as successful and accomplished; the thought of failure makes you anxious. Maybe you dread social situations because you don't want to be recognized as the awkward one in the group. Maybe you're discontent with your appearance.  You long to stand out from the crowd as the one with the best hair and classiest clothes. Maybe you feel self-conscious about an addiction or disorder and don't want anyone to judge you based on your condition.

Regardless of the circumstance, your insecurity has started to negatively influence parts of your life, dictating your thoughts and actions. Where can you turn?

You can start by meditating on Scripture for peace, hope and assurance. These four Bible verses will get you started:

2 Corinthians 12:9 (GNTD)

But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me.

1 John 3:1 (GNTD)

See how much the Father has loved us! His love is so great that we are called God's children—and so, in fact, we are. This why the world does not know us: it has not known God.

Ephesians 3:12 (GNTD)

In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence.

2 Timothy 1:7 (GNTD)

For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, his Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.