Working with others can be a great experience, but it can also reveal insecurities in ourselves. Ever been part of a group project and worried that the others might make you look bad? We might feel this way when we’re working with people who aren’t really committed to the task and don’t put the effort in, so the final outcome could end up reflecting negatively on us. Or it could be because others in the group might prove to be better at something than we are, and we think that we won’t measure up (it can be especially difficult when we’re thinking about a skill that we’re proud of having). These feelings reveal that we’re insecure about our abilities and identity in Christ. But Jesus said, ‘You didn’t choose me. I chose you’ (John 15:16 NLT). We already have His love and approval, regardless of what anyone else thinks about us. We are His choice. Paul wrote: ‘Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too’ (v.3-4 NLT). God often places people around us to teach us something. He might be placing us with less committed people to help us grow our patience or to develop the gift of encouragement. He might put us with skilled people so that we can learn from the way they do things or find fresh inspiration. Rather than feeding our insecurity by focusing on how we’ll compare, let’s think, ‘What can I learn from this person?' And if we’re not sure, we can always ask God to show us.

What Now?

Do you feel insecure about your abilities when you’re around a certain person or group of people? Have a chat with God and try to discover one or two things you could learn from them. Next time you’re with them, focus on those things instead.