INSECURITY: 3 Ways it can Cripple a Christian's Creative Ministry

Some artists seem invincible: you could pore over their work for hours and still walk away pondering, "Is there anything they can't do?"

But look a little deeper, and you're sure to find it. Everybody has one. An insecurity, a weak spot that makes them want to hide from the spotlight and keep their work out of the public eye. Even the "best of the best" have a note they can't hit, a facial feature they can't quite draw correctly, a dance step they cannot nail, or a literary genre that always gives them Writer's Block.

You may be a skilled artist or gifted actor, but you've probably got a few insecurities about your work. And most likely, you keep yourself at a distance from those weak spots by choosing easier activities that don't stretch you enough to expose your less-than-stellar side. Without realizing it, you could be building your whole career, creative journey, or ministry -- whatever you like to call it -- upon the idea of hiding your weaknesses from others.

Since it involves people drawing attention away from themselves, insecurity is sometimes misinterpreted as modesty: to brush off a compliment with an, "Oh, I'm not really that good," seems like a way of being humble. There is, however, a world of difference between humility and insecurity: humility is rooted in servitude and a genuine happiness for the accomplishments of others, while insecurity stems from fear and an obsession with one's reputation.

For Christian artists, insecurity can act as a huge obstacle on our mission to serve God. Here are three major reasons why confidence and Christian creativity should go hand in hand:

1. Insecurity prevents you from developing your talents.

Insecurity is born from comparison -- it usually starts when people measure their abilities against those of others and realise that they've still got a long way to go before they can be "as good." Such comparisons generally lead to one of two conclusions. Some people look at other artists in despair and give up because their efforts seem hopeless. Some try to catch up to the standard set by others, thinking, "I'll be a good artist if I can only do better than that person." While this kind of attitude might push people to improve, it prevents them from truly growing. As MMM wrote earlier, the only standard worth comparing yourself to is God's, since it provides limitless space to grow -- aim for anything less, and you're underestimating your potential.

Besides this, comparisons ignore the fact that God created us to be different: each one of us has a unique ministry and calling, and you'll be hard pressed to find someone whose abilities are just like yours. It's certainly easy to feel insecure when you seem to be alone in your creative endeavors-- but uniqueness is just what God had in mind for you, so don't let comparison drain your confidence.

2. Insecurity puts the focus on pleasing people.

Think of your biggest source of insecurity as an artist -- that one note you can't hit or that dance step you only wish you could perform. Now, ask yourself: "Before whom do I feel insecure?" Is it before God? Or is it before your teachers, parents, friends, critics, and fans? People don't usually feel insecure about the fact that God knows their weaknesses -- after all, it only takes a quick peek into the Bible to realise that no lack of skill can ever make God love us less. Rather, artists who lack confidence feel insecure before humans, and can become obsessed with trying please them. Not only is this unbiblical (Gal. 1:10); it's exhausting. The more people you try to please, the more insecure you to feel, as each member of your audience has different expectations, likes, and dislikes, making it impossible to get good feedback from everyone all of the time. But the more confidence you lose because of this, the more people you try to please in hopes that you'll eventually find the respect and appreciation you crave. Sound like a vicious cycle? It is. Worst of all, it leaves God out of the picture.

3. God has a plan for your trash.

"One man's trash is another's treasure." It might be a cliche, but the saying holds truth: just because you feel insecure about a piece of work doesn't mean that somebody else cannot be edified by it. Every piece of art created by mankind is imperfect by God's standard, yet this certainly hasn't stopped him from using our work to reveal Himself to our world. It's important to remember that God doesn't see our flaws as an obstacle -- He uses them to show his power, which is "made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). He also uses our weaknesses to show His love: who but a loving God would stoop to inhabit our imperfect efforts despite being himself the embodiment of perfection? So when you feel insecure about your abilities, stop looking for confidence within yourself and become confident in God's power and love. He can turn your "trash" into treasures that reflect His nature to the rest of the world.

C.S. Lewis once said, "A man is generally not called upon to have an opinion of his own talents ... since he can very well go on improving them to the best of his ability without deciding on their own precise niche in the temple of fame." It's not your job to decide how much better or worse your work is compared to somebody else's, and it's certainly not your job to hide your talents from others because you're worried about what others will think. Your job is to serve God boldly and fearlessly, diligently working towards improvement and letting Him turn your imperfections into something beautiful.

Article by Oksana K.
Image credits: Graphic by Oksana K. Stock by Sophie.

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