Dealing with Our Fear of Inadequacy, with Erica Wiggenhorn

Does insecurity ever get you down? Do you fear you’re not doing enough or you don’t have what it takes to do what God is calling you to do? You don't have to keep striving. Learn the beauty of a surrendered life with guest Erica Wiggenhorn.

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Episode Notes

“Every Day Is a New Chance to Surrender to God” video with Robyn McKelvy

Letting God Be Enough by Erica Wiggenhorn

“Will You Pass the Insecurity, Please?” blog post from Erin Davis

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Portia Collins: What words would you use to describe Moses? Leader? Visionary? How about insecure? Welcome to Grounded, a videocast and a podcast produced by Revive Our Hearts. I'm Portia Collins.

Erin Davis: I'm Erin Davis, and you had me at insecure Portia, because I am feeling a bit of that this morning. Thanksgiving is next week for those of us here in the States. We know you Canadian friends have already observed it and did not invite me. But here in the states we're getting ready. I went yesterday and got my turkey. It is my favorite holiday. But it also exposes my insecurities. It surprises me every year when those insecurities start to bubble up. So, what does our insecurities have to do with Moses?

Portia: Well, we'll get to that in a minute. Okay, so sit tight, but I don't think that you're alone, okay? I know a lot of people, including myself, all have our different levels of insecurity. And so, Grounded sisterhood, I want to hear from you. 

Erin: Yeah. 

Portia: Time to fess up. Are any of these thoughts bubbling up in your heart this week?

Erin: Yeah. Give us a little like emoji hand or a heart. We need to know the answer. 

Portia: You know we love the emojis. 

Erin: We do. We love them. 

Portia: Think about it. It could be any little thing that's bubbling up in your heart, maybe I don't have what it takes to pull off a meaningful holiday. Or, I am going to be around my sister-in-law or that perfect cousin who just always looks so flawless.

Erin: Oh, I have some of those. Yeah.

Portia: I got several. Or how about this one? What is my mother-in-law going to criticize me about now? 

Erin: I have a wonderful mother-in-law. I know you have a wonderful mother-in-law.

Portia: I do. 

Erin: But that could be a challenge. We've got actually a whole episode about dealing with in-laws coming up, so stay tuned for that.

Portia: Yeah, I'm super excited about that. 

Erin: Me too.

Portia: We have a very interesting story, particularly me and my sister-in-law. We weren't always the best of buddies. But, we are now.

Erin: I just think being around . . . whether it's in-laws or that uncle that you only see during the holidays, sometimes that can cause us to feel some very deep insecurities that we've had for a long time. And they bubble up when we all gather around the table. Right? 

Well, how about these? Are you feeling any of these? Be sure and tell us? My house isn't nice enough. I, unfortunately, made the decision a couple of weeks ago to peel all the wallpaper off in my dining room, and then made the decision to host Thanksgiving. So it looks like a haunted house in my dining room. It's making me feel a little insecure. Or my food isn't good enough. Maybe you don't make pie crust quite as good as grandma did. Or my family isn't happy enough. The list of insecurities that we can feel can feel endless, can’t it?

Portia: Absolutely. Absolutely. You know, for so many women, ‘tis the season of not Thanksgiving, but of striving to do.

Erin: 'Tis the season of striving. I don't like that, but that's true.

Portia: We want to strive to do more, to be more, to impress. And guess what, guys? We are here to help each other today. Rest in Christ. I want you to rest in Christ.

Erin: I told my husband last week that there's the bar for holidays, for me. I want absolute magic every year. I just want it to all be amazing. And that's not a bar that I hit. So that's exposing some insecurities in me. 

We are here to help each other, because when it comes to insecurity, I think as women we are in this together. As we were conversing a bit before this episode started, it doesn't have to be. I don't want us to be the Grounded women who just say, “Oh, women are insecure. That's just the way that it's going to be forever.” Because there is an alternative. So, I need this episode too. 

I'm so glad that Erica Wiggenhorn will be joining us. She's an absolute burst of joy and peace and truth. Anytime I'm around her, I walk away with a little pep in my step. She says that Moses, who led millions of people out of Egypt, Moses, who face down powerful Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world at the time, Moses who led the people through the Red Sea; in the middle of that miracle that Moses is the greatest self-doubter in the Bible. She's gonna show us how Moses’ life helps us push back against insecurity, inadequacy. And this is an interesting one, I can't wait to talk about imposter syndrome. 

Portia: I am ready. And you know, I love it any time we open our Bibles to the Old Testament. Let's do it.

Erin: I know, I know. You're the Old Testaments hype girl, which I love. I'm eager to think about Moses in a new way. I think I tend to think of him as pretty confident once he had that burning bush scenario. I'm also eager to learn how to stop striving. I did not want this to be the season of striving and start surrendering. But first, there's only one good way to start a Monday morning, what is it P? 

Portia: With some good news!

Erin: Good news! That's right, we got to have some good news. We are about to run a marathon, and it's a good news marathon. I'm not sure if you know, Grounded ladies, but I'm the resident news track on our Grounded team. I'm always scouring the headlines. Sometimes I get hooked on a single story, and I read everything I can about it. And last week, that story that I was hooked on was the New York City Marathon. Portia, were you watching? Were you as interested as I was? 

Portia: I did not watch, and I did not know that you were into running. 

Erin: I'm so not into running myself. But there were so many stories from this year's marathon that were very heartwarming. Well, you may or may not know, but the New York City Marathon didn't happen for the past two years because of COVID. So, this was actually the 50th anniversary of the New York City Marathon. I don't know, the whole thing just felt really hopeful to me. 

Portia: Yeah, well, a picture really is worth 1000 words. Here is the man's first place finisher. Albert literally is jumping for joy as he crossed the finish line. 

Erin: I love that picture.

Portia: Aren't we all feeling that as we think about all God has carried us through for the past couple of years? I know I am. 

Erin: Yeah, I’m feeling that. 

This huge New York City Marathon was the first marathon that a man named David ever ran. When David finished the race, he went right to his brother, Mark. This is good to put a tear in your eye; I'm just warning you. Mark was brought to the finish line by ambulance from a New York City Hospital just for this moment, because he is battling a rare form of liver cancer. Look at those brothers. They're at the marathon finish line. And here's what the runner David said. He said:

Around mile 22, [which I'd be feeling this at around mile two], I hit a wall. And I thought if Mark could come out here today and all that he's been through the last few years, if he can be resilient and remarkable with everything he's been through, I have no excuse not to push through.

So as he hit that runner’s block, he thought of his brother fighting cancer, and he finished the race and ran right to his brother. Oh, it’s a tear jerker. 

Portia: Ah, I could just bawl. This would make such a good movie. I would love to like watch this. 

Erin: It would! Yes, we could name it Finish Line.

Portia: Yes! Well, here's your Monday morning reminder that we are better together. Watch this short clip of what happened when one runner collapsed just about 200 meters from the finish line.

Erin: Well, that's a pretty good picture of what we do here on Grounded. We carry each other across the finish line of faith. To help with that man that collapsed, some other runners picked him up, carried him by his arms, and he did finish. 

And literally last, but not least in our eyes, is a woman named Fredi. Now, Fredi finished the race dead last. She crossed the finish line at 11 p.m., which was long after most of the other racers had gone home and were tucked in their beds. But this past year, Fredi was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She had to run the last 10 miles of the race with a walker. I was reading that there are these things called sweepers. These sweeper buses come through, and they say, “Do you want to finish? Do you want to get on the bus?” And they kept asking her long after it got dark, “Fredi, you want to get on the sweeper bus?” And she said “no.” So, she finished the race. Fredi told reporters if you can't be first, it's great to be last, which sure sounds like something Jesus said. So Fredi, here on Grounded, we love your perseverance. 

Portia: Yes, I think that one is my favorite. So, Erin, you want to run a marathon together?

Erin: I would do almost anything and go almost anywhere with you Portia, but I did not want to run a marathon. Let's just go watch it.

Grounded Over Insecurity: Erica Wiggenhorn

Portia: Maybe someday. Now, it is time to get grounded with God's people. I am super excited to have Erica Wiggenhorn with us this morning. She is the founder of Every Life Ministries. She’s a Bible teacher, a wife, and a mama. She lives with her family in Phoenix, Arizona, which is by far one of my favorite places now. And today, she is here to help us with our fear of help us deal with our fear of inadequacy through a biblical lens. So welcome, Erica.

Erica Wiggenhorn: Hi, Portia. Good morning.

Portia: Good morning. Look, I love your joy already. I feel like we are two peas in the pod because I'm like that extra girl who was always smiling. I’m just so super excited I get to be with you this morning. Let's start here. Imposter syndrome. This is a huge word. It's a phrase that everybody is throwing around now. And so, before we dig in, I really want you to help us to understand what it is and what led you to write about it from a Christian perspective.

Erica: Great question. So, the Lord really brought me face to face with imposter syndrome about four years ago. It was actually my very first moment that I was going to go visit Moody Publishers. I was in the hotel room, and I was with a fellow author friend of mine. We were getting ready to leave and my hands just started to shake, and sweat broke out my forehead; my stomach just wrenched up in knots. I looked at my friend and I was like, “I can't go in there. I'm gonna take one step in there and they're gonna look at me and go, what were we thinking, letting this knucklehead publish a Bible study?” I'm gonna be exposed. I'm a fraud. I don't know what I'm doing here. 

And long story short, we made it through the day. I was trying to feign my excitement and my confidence in being there. But the whole time, I was just an absolute nervous wreck. And we got back to our hotel room that night. When I laid my head on the pillow, I just sensed the Lord whispering to me in my heart, “Daughter, this was supposed to be a day of such joy. This was supposed to be a day of celebration. I was dancing before the throne in excitement for you. And you allowed a lie to rob you of all the joy of this moment. When are we going to deal with this? You need to let Me deal with this in your life.”

I knew God was really knocking on the door in my heart. Like, are we going to do some business here daughter or what? The passion of my life, Portia, is to get your face in this book, and to live like it’s true. 

So, the first thing I did is I started to seek the Lord and say, “God, show me in Your Word who in your Word deals with this, this fear of inadequacy, this fear of not being enough, of not being able to walk in the season and the assignment that You have for them? And show me what You do in their life to begin to bring freedom. 

That was where I really started. And He led me to Moses, whom I call the greatest self-doubter of the Bible. I don't think anybody argues with God about their assignment and about who they are more than Moses. And so, I began to dig into that. 

But as I began to just research it and then look at what the world says about imposter syndrome, versus what God says in His Word about imposter syndrome, I noticed two very different prescriptions for healing. That got me very curious. It also got me very interested to know, gosh, the world is talking about this a lot. Is this a pervasive thing? Because I kind of felt like I was the only one dealing with it. And what I realized is, this lie of our enemy is one he uses against God's daughters pervasively. And so, then I was like, “Alright, we gotta dig, we gotta dig.” 

Portia: Gotta dig in.

Erica: And we’ve got to start talking about imposter syndrome from a biblical perspective.

Portia: Yeah. So, it makes me want to ask this. I love the fact that you referred to Moses as the greatest self-doubter in the Bible. I guess, help our viewers and our listeners understand? How did God respond? Like, what was this? What did God tell Moses? How did God want Moses to respond to the assignments in the season that He placed him in? Because I really think that fleshing this out can be helpful for me to hear and everybody else. How God actually ministers to Moses, in his calling.

Erica: Yeah, so when we think of Moses, we think of Moses exactly the way Aaron described him. We pick-up Moses’ story in Exodus 3. But what we forget about Moses’ the story is what happened in Exodus 2, when he somehow sensed this call of God upon his life. He tried to go out and fulfill that call . . . and he failed epicly. Why? Well, because he did it in his own strength, in his own way, and in his own timing. He did not do it in a posture of surrender to God and of trusting God to fulfill the call that he felt in his heart. 

And so, he runs away after this epic failure. He's camped out in Midian for 40 years. And when we get to Exodus 3, what we're really seeing there is God issuing Moses a do over. Like, “I know all about Exodus 2, Moses, I was there. But it's a new day. It's time for a do over.” And so, this is where we're stepping into in Exodus 3.

God comes and He's like, “Look, Moses, I see the condition of my people in Egypt. They're in bondage, they're hurting. You're going to go back to Egypt, and I'm going to use you to deliver my people.” 

And Moses is like, “Um, God, did you forget what happened last time I tried that? lt didn't go so well for me. That was not something I really care to relive.” 

He begins arguing with God. He's like, “I don't really think I'm the guy for that job. Like, have you ever met my brother Aaron. Maybe You want to send him instead.” He just begins to argue with God about why he cannot do the thing that God has called him to do. I think the reality is, Portia, all of us do that with God to a degree. Like, we're in the thick of raising teenagers. We're like, “I can't raise this kid. I don't know what to do. I'm at my wit's end.”

Portia: Or in my case, a three-nager 

Erica: We have a difficult marriage, and we're like, “God, I just can't do this. This is too hard. This is too painful.” Or, I can't care for this aging parent that is losing their mind to dementia. We all do this with God in our lives, where we have seasons, we have assignments. We're just like, “God, why? Why am I walking through this? Who am I to be able to do this well?”

And so, what I find so beautiful about the encounter between God and Moses in that situation is that Moses basically goes to God and says, “Who am I? Why me God, really? Like, no, I can't do this.” And when we look at the world's prescription for when we're feeling that way, what leading psychologists and thought leaders tell us to do in that situation is, we need to look in the mirror, we need to unroll our resume, we need to give ourselves a great big pep talk about why I am actually the girl for the job. 

And we don't see God do that with Moses at all. He doesn't unroll Moses’ resume and give him a bunch of props. He simply promises Moses His presence. He says, “Moses, I'll be with you. I'll be with you.” In other words, what He's really inviting Moses to do is get his eyes off of himself and turn his eyes to the greatness and the glory of God. 

Portia: Amen.

Erica: I think that is the first step for all of us, right? A fear of inadequacy is really when we fallen into this place of self-sufficiency, that’s when our inaccuracy begins to surface. And God's like, “No, no, no, just slow your roll, Sister. This isn't dependent on you. Get your eyes off of yourself, and look at Me; I will be with you.” But do you know what else He says that I just love. He goes on to say, “I will be with you when you lead the people out.”

Now, I just circled that when in my Bible, because he doesn't say to Moses, if you're spiritual enough Moses to understand everything I'm saying to you at all times, you'll lead the people out. Or if you are so super obedient, that you never mess up and make a mistake, you'll lead the people out. Or if you are a wise or an eloquent enough leader, you'll lead the people out. 

God's promising him fulfillment, because it's God's plan. God always finishes what He starts. I love that because there is some great peace in there in God's saying, “Moses, I've got this, I've got this. I don't need you to understand it all. I don't need you to figure it all out. I don't need you to be able to wrap your little finite mind around an entirely other limitless God. I just need you to say yes to Me.”

Portia: “Say, yes to Me.” Oh, that is such a blessing to me. And you know, I love the fact that God points Moses to Himself, not to a credential or a skill set or anything God points out. He directs his eyes, his gaze to Himself. I know that I've fallen into that trap. So many times when I'm feeling inadequate, I try grabbing all these things from the world, instead of looking at God. 

And so, this morning, I know just with me, there are some other women who are struggling the same way. They're struggling to surrender to God and to fix their gazes on God. I just want to ask, can you pray for me and for them? Pray for all of us who have been struggling to surrender and to look at God as opposed to looking at ourselves.

Erica: I would love to. And before I pray, I just want to quickly unpack that concept of surrender. Because we talk about I surrender all, and all is a lot of stuff, right? So, I think what we have to do when we talk about surrender, that can just feel so daunting, that feels very daunting to me. And so, when we think about surrender, I think what we really need to do is we need to just press pause for one minute. 

We need to think about one thing that is really burdening your heart in this moment, or is giving you anxiety, or is waking you up in the middle of the night, or is just sort of ruminating in your thoughts all day throughout the day. That's the thing God is calling you to surrender. Don't think of it as this 30,000-foot view of surrender. Think of the one thing that you are just really clinging to that is just robbing you of your joy. It's just sucking all of your emotional and mental energy out of you. That's the thing God is calling you to surrender today. Tomorrow, it might be something else. But that's what it is for today. And so, get practical with it. Get practical and get personal in your moment right now.

So now that everybody's kind of got that thing in their head, now I want to pray. Oh, Lord Jesus, how we thank You and praise You for the good promises that You've given us in Your Word; that You are the Author and the Finisher of our faith; that You will finish the good work that You have started in us. While we may be standing in a burning bush, feeling like we are facing the toughest and scariest assignment of our life, You are the God who will bring us to the other side. You will lead Your people out. It's not a question of if; it's a question of when. 

You will never leave us or forsake us. Your presence is always with us guiding and directing and comfortin, and equipping and giving wisdom and covering us with Your love when we just don't get it, and we don't get it all right. 

And so, God, for those of us that we've figured out that one thing that we are just clinging to, we have an outcome in our heart we so desperately desire. And yet we also know, Lord, that You might have a different plan. That's hard to let go. But God, we say in faith that we know that You are a God with limitless capabilities and abounding love. Your plans for us are good. You are always good, and You are always faithful. And so today, Lord, we choose to trust You. Give us faith, where our faith is weak. Give us courage to follow You when we're weary. Give us strength to obey You. When our heart tempts us and entices us to try to live in our own strength, help us to press into You, Jesus, and to remember how incredibly good and kind and perfect and wise You are . . . all the time. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Portia: Amen. Erica, you have blessed me so much today. And I know that our Grounded sisters are saying the same. Thank you so much for being with us. I think you're gonna be sticking around because we are about to get grounded in God's Word.

Grounded in the Word: Revelation 4

Erin: We are. In fact, we’ve been in God's Word. But while we were praying, I like to kind of imagine what I hope God's doing in every episode of Grounded. I was imagining women around the world letting go of whatever that one thing is today, surrendering it to the Lord, and having confidence not in ourselves, but in the Lord’s sufficiency. I hope that's what He's doing through this episode. 

We've been in God's Word; we're gonna stay in God's Word. As Erica was talking, I wrote down, “Moses failed epicly because he did it in his own strength, in his own way, and his in his own timing,” and that's going to preach. 

So, we're gonna talk about insecurity and self-sufficiency, which I would like you to think about as two plants with the same root system. And the root system is pride. Spurgeon described pride as an “all-pervading sin.” And He also said that pride is a “sin with 1,000 lives; it seems impossible to kill it.” 

So, if we're making a connection between our insecurity, our imposter syndrome, our fear of inadequacy, and our pride, it does feel impossible to kill it. Is there any hope? I think there is. So, what is pride? I loved how Erica was contrasting the world's messages for women with God's messages for women, because the world is going to tell us that pride is actually a good thing. But pride is a preoccupation with ourselves. And that's a big deal. Because in our pride, we give ourselves the glory that only God deserves. 

I have developed a highly scientific pride test. Here's how it works. Take your two fingers, and put them on your neck. If you have a pulse, then you have a pride problem. It's just part of being people of the flesh. But there is an antidote: all is not lost, and the antidote to pride is humility. 

Here's what I've had to learn in my own life, insecurity is actually false humility. It's not true humility, even though we might be self-deprecating, even though we might be feeling bad about ourselves, even though we might be saying bad things about ourselves. That's not actually true humility. Why? Because we're still focused on ourselves. We're still thinking about what we lack, how we don't measure up, what's gonna happen if we get found out. And there's still that we, we, we, I, I, I that is the chorus of pride. 

So how can we be free from the all-pervading sin of pride? There's only one way, and it is the way that Moses ultimately chose as you read his story. We look to someone greater than ourselves. We look to Jesus. If you remember Moses’ story from Exodus 34, Moses was with God. He was so focused on God that when he came down from that encounter with God, he glowed. It freaked people out, he looked so different, because he had stopped looking inward. He had learned to look outward at God, and it transformed him. And so that is the only way I know to shake up the root of pride, which keeps wanting to burrow in our lives, and does seem to have 1,000 lives. Look at Jesus. 

There is one passage that the Lord has used to help me do this many, many times. In fact, there's a period of my life where I really looked at this passage. And it is seared in my mind from those early mornings in Revelation 4. I want you to grab your Bible. I'm going to invite Portia and Erica to join me back. We're just going to read this chapter into your day. I just want you to listen for now. And then I have a couple of quick questions for you as we wrap up this segment. So, if you have your Bible with you, go ahead and turn yourself to Revelation 4. We're gonna read the whole chapter. It's 11 verses. We're going to be reading out of the ESV. Portia, kick us off. Can you read us Revelation 4:1–4?

Portia: Absolutely, I'd be happy to. It says, 

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

Erin: Love it. Erica, we share the same mission, which is to get women's noses in this book. So, can you read us Revelation 4:5-6?

Erica:

From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblingsand peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: 

Erin: Now, let me pick it up at 7 because this is my favorite part, 7 and 8. 

. . . the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say,

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty,
   who was and is and is to come!”

I just want to lay down flat on my face right there at that verse But Portia you of course you wouldn't pick it up with 9 and 10. And then Erica, finish it up with 11.

Portia:

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Erica:

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they existed and were created.”

Erin: How's that for a Monday morning dose of power and truth. Portia and Erica rapid fire as you hear those verses, what are some adjectives, some descriptors that describe how you see Jesus portrayed in this passage?

Portia: Holy.

Erica: Intentional. 

Portia: Intentional is beautiful. What else do you see? 

Erica: Working 

Portia: Worthy 

Erin: Worthy, working. Yeah. Grounded sisterhood, as you're listening as you're watching, drop in the chat. What do you see in this passage? He's powerful. He's enthroned. He’s seated.

Erica: Beautiful, beautiful.

Erin: So beautiful. John can't describe it in human words. He's trying. He's grasping at these words in this picture of who Jesus really is. It does kill pride in us and therefore it kills insecurity, imposter syndrome, inadequacy, all of those things. 

Because as I look at this passage, the questions that bubble up for me, I'll say them rhetorically, but I do want you to wrestle with Him. Erin, where is your throne in this passage? Where is my crown? Who's worshiping Me in Revelation 4? And the answer is, this should actually give us great security, not insecurity. We are not even in the throne room. We are not the object of worship of these 24 Elders and these creatures. We're not even there. But we are deeply loved and treasured by this king in Revelation 4. 

So, what kills my pride, what kills my insecurity, what kills my self-sufficiency, what kills my comparison? It's not thinking less of myself, C.S. Lewis said this, “It's thinking of myself less, and not just thinking of myself less so that I disappear from my own mind. But it's thinking about Jesus more and more and more and more, and thinking of him as he truly is, which is this enthroned King.” 

So that's my hope for you this week, sisters. When insecurity bubbles up, that we will flip ourselves to Revelation 4, or anywhere else in Scripture, where we see the power of God, and that we'll think of him more and maybe glow like Moses did as a result.

Portia: Erin, I love it when you just take us to church girl.

Erin: Yeah, you know, Revelation, brings it out in me.

Portia: Yes. What do you think it'll be like in heaven when we no longer have to fight against our pride, whether it comes out of self-sufficiency or insecurity? 

Erin: You know, Scripture tells us that we cannot imagine, no mind has comprehended what the Lord has in store for us. 

I really don't think we can picture what it will be like to be without pride, because it's such a constant friend, but I cannot wait to be free of my pride thing. 

Portia: Same, same. Oh, you blessed me. Well, Erica showed us that the key to stop striving is actually found in surrendering. Okay, another yes. Our Grounded friend, Robyn McKelvy, is going to remind us that every day is a new chance to surrender to God in this short clip.

Robyn McKelvy Video

Robyn: I think it's very ironic that I'm going to get on a platform and talk about submission, because I feel like I fail at it every day. And I'm not talking about submission to my husband, but submission to God. Every day I wake up, and I get down on my knees. I asked the Lord for my will to be His will today. I would love to do that perfectly, but I don't. I realize when I'm fussing at a child, or with my own agenda, when it's my agenda over God's agenda, I'm failing the Lord. 

So, if you don't do this thing because you feel like you failed, or you're not good at it, welcome to the club. All of us are imperfect. Nobody's gonna do this life perfectly. Number one, because when you name the name of Jesus Christ, you have an enemy that doesn't want Christ to be seen in a way that brings glory to Him. So, this enemy is gonna attack you. He is constantly on the warpath, seeking whom he can attack and bring down so that the gospel doesn't go forth. 

So, every day you wake up, you get new mercies. That's what we count on, the newness that God gives us every day. So if I wake up breathing today, then I'm grateful that it's a new day. I can give myself afresh to God today to be what He needs for me to be, and I'm not gonna do it perfectly. I realize that, but I'm gonna do my best every day to be what God would have me to be.

Closing: The Good Stuff

Erin: We got a new day, we got a new week, and we have been encouraged to identify that thin, and surrender it to the Lord. We've got a new day, a new opportunity to live surrendered. So, you guys, this is hitting you right in the heart, which is what we hoped it would do. 

Dupree, you said that you're realizing that inadequacy and self-sufficiency are rooted in pride. I'm so glad that is an important realization. Anne is telling us that you thank the Lord for Grounded for this morning, that it's answered a question that you're asking right now, and God's given you a plan. That's all the Lord; that's not us. But we celebrate His work in His in your heart. 

Hey, I know you're gonna want to hear more from Erica, and she's got a book, catch this title. It’s called Letting God Be Enough. God is enough. But do we let Him be enough in our lives. We don't want to send you out without putting the link to that book right there in the chat so you can grab it. 

We've got one more reason as we're talking about this, to ask the Lord to help you surrender your insecurity. And that is, it's contagious. I want you to think about the young women who are going to be at your Thanksgiving table next week. For me, it is my nieces. For you, it might be your daughters, your granddaughter, some cousins. We want to give them a legacy of security in Jesus. We can do that when we live these surrendered lives we've been talking about. 

I wrote about that in a ReviveOurHearts.com blog post several years ago. I pull it out and reread it and make sure I'm living it every year. The title is, “Will You Pass the Insecurity, Please?”It's about the legacy of insecurity in our families. I'd encourage you to read it before the holiday comes around to you. We're gonna of course drop the link.

Portia: You know, I gotta say that this episode was jam packed with that rich biblical truth. 

Erin: It was. It feels like we're having women's Bible study around the world.

Portia: Hmm. Well, I want to sneak in one more passage as we wave goodbye. It's from 2 Corinthians 3:4–5. It says this, “Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from . . . ”whom? God. Build your week on that solid truth sisters, build your week on that. We aren’t sufficient in ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God. 

Erin: You know what? Every little insecurity flare that goes up this week, next week, anytime. It's an opportunity to think about Jesus in the throne room and remember how sufficient He is. 

So, hurry back next Monday. We’re excited about next week's episode. Alisa Childers is going to be with us. We're going to be talking about this big word that everybody else seems to be talking about “deconstruction.” So, what is it? How do we live as Christians in what's been called the deconstruction era? Let's wake up with hope. Together next week on Grounded.

Grounded is an outreach of Revive Our Hearts, calling women to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

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