Comments on: Guest Blog: Anna Meadows

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:06:02 +0000

Thanks for Posting this it helped me to read this and understand some things.

By: Straight Up » Blog Archive » Lukessss’ssss Linkssss

Straight Up » Blog Archive » Lukessss’ssss Linkssss — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:13:36 +0000

[...] really good look at insecurity and how it wrecks [...]

By: Insecurity « What is Jake thinking?

Insecurity « What is Jake thinking? — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:05:45 +0000

[...] Read here at Lifechurch.tv [...]

By: brad

brad — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 21:02:35 +0000

My Brother is a Minister who leads & he taught me this: “Insecurity is rooted in selfishness b/c you are trying to be secure “In-Yourself.” The solution & victory from “in-security” is solved by becoming “Secure-In” Jesus Christ!

By: Carol

Carol — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:53:12 +0000

Wow, the more I read about leadership, the more I realize that we all struggle with the same things!

By: First day teaching « A walk to remember

First day teaching « A walk to remember — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:45:15 +0000

[...] Read this: Insecurity sucks!! [...]

By: John Snyder

John Snyder — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 05:38:44 +0000

Insecure leadership sabotaged my last job. My boss, who I thought was a prideful leader, turned out to be an insecure leader. It hurt us both and was not good for the ministry or me. It tended to make me insecure in the decisions I had to make.

By: Oh, this blog is so TRUE … - StevenBrady.org

Oh, this blog is so TRUE … - StevenBrady.org — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 19:02:40 +0000

[...] Oct.14, 2008 Insecurity Sucks [...]

By: LaNeitria

LaNeitria — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:00:35 +0000

I totally agree with this post!! I was just expressing this sentiment today with one of my friends….it is definately a battle of the mind. I liken it to a wound that you are trying to let heal, but it keeps getting reopened anytime we accept an incorrect thought from the enemy. This is an issue that I am stil dealing with, but one thing that has helped me was my thinking that it’s not that serious…meaning that I have had to learn to just focus on what God has called me to do and the rest will fall into place.
I have learned that when I am completely focused on Him, I am in some type of spiritual bubble where the acceptance of incorrect thoughts doesn’t penetrate but is instead deflected.

Once again, great post.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:00:24 +0000

Amen sister! You said exactly what I learned a couple of years ago. God took me through a year long “cleansing” of insecurity that had completely taken over my whole life. To anyone who is battling this-the power of God can change the way you think and act. It’s a battle for sure…but Christ in you can help you overcome it :)

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:55:42 +0000

Great reminder. Hey, I needed that! Thanks Anna.

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:46:12 +0000

Kayla–Thanks!
Bill–You’re so right… we can’t please everyone… isn’t it refreshing?
Will–Thank you for the verses…
Jared–people don’t think about us the way we think they think about us… Thank God!
Emanuel–Stay strong in your calling. If God is for you, aint no one can stand against you!
Wendy–Thanks for your insightful words!

By: Wendy Collinsworth

Wendy Collinsworth — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:11:22 +0000

Great post Anna! You and Tony are super awesome leaders at Northwest and Todd & I have learned bunches from you guys! Thank you!!! Keep up the good work!

Having insecurities in leadership can come from any number of things…general self-esteem issues…being gun-shy from previous hurtful ministry situations…fear of being disliked/wanting to please everyone…the list could go on.

I do believe that everyone–at some point in their leadership–deals with insecurities that need to be dealt with (ie: look at Gideon, Moses, etc.). Using Gideon & Moses as my examples, two things were true of both of them: 1) They each had a skewed view of themselves. 2) In the natural, OTHER PEOPLE could have come up with any number of reasons why they WOULDN’T or COULDN’T be successful (Gideon was a young man (inexperienced) from an otherwise unremarkable clan from the tribe of Manasseh, and Moses had a speech impediment).

Both of them could have let those things hold them back from greatness…but knowing WHERE your confidence comes from is KEY! As you said, “God’s words are the truths that will set you free [from the bondage of insecurity].” Knowing WHO you are in Christ, and being confident in the gifts that HE has given you to carry out His purposes (and knowing that they are valuable to HIM) is all that matters. Even as Christ-folowers, we will never please everyone. We are responsible to act and to conduct our leadership not in our own confidence, but through His!

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:03:33 +0000

Right on Anna!

By: Emanuel

Emanuel — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:27:54 +0000

Anna, great post! (very timely, too) I, like Kenyon, have struggled with my calling. I have run away from God’s calling for a few years and finally surrendered my life to His will. Still, as you mentioned, satan will attack this as hard as he can. Just the other day I had a talk with my dad and he told me that if I become a pastor he will be ashamed of me and ashamed to tell his friends what I do for a living. Needless to say, this did not do much for my security. Still, (at least at this point) this has not deterred me from God’s call on my life. Thank you Anna for your reminder that who we are has little to do with what others think and say and everything with what God says about us.

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:19:23 +0000

I’ve definitely let insecurities falter my leadership. I ALWAYS think about what others think about me…and I’ve been so used to acting in ways to please them (I’m embarrassed to say this - I don’t want it this way.)

I’m still listening to God and growing in the section of just focusing on what HE says about Me.

He says I am called. I must live the life of someone who is called…not letting others (or my view of what others think about me) stop me from living my calling to the fullest!

By: will

will — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:06:29 +0000

Anna - as a “former” youth pastor (I work mostly with couples and the parents of teens now, but once a youth pastor …always a youth pastor), I appreicate your candid-ness and succinct ctritique of insecurity in leadership.

for those of you looking for the verses that define our identity in Christ, here is a Top 10 list from a card we jsut made for our Upstream series (www.church-redeemer.org):

1. forgiven and saved by God’s mercy and grace- eph. 2:8-9
2. a new creation - 2 corinthians 5:17
3. a child of Father God - romans 8:16
4. salt and light in the world - matthew 5:13-16
5. an ambassador of Jesus - 2 corinthians 5:20
6. a co-heir with Jesus - romans 8:17
7. a temple of the Holy Spirit - 1 corinthians 6:19
8. a vital part of the body of Jesus - 1 corinthians 12:27
9. a servant and saint of God - 1 peter 2:16 & romans 1:7
10. blessed …to be a blessing - ephesians 1:3

By: Bill (cycleguy)

Bill (cycleguy) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:45:27 +0000

Great post Anna. My insecurity? Craig already talked about and it was killing me until I realized it will never never happen…trying to please everyone. Wanting to be liked. Makes tough decisions even tougher.

By: Kayla

Kayla — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:03:33 +0000

This is one of the best guest blog posts that I’ve read on here in a while. It was so succinct and easy to read/skim.

You make a great point. I’m definitely going to re-post this.

yay lifechurch!

By: Anna

Anna — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:12:46 +0000

Blane–This is what I’ve learned about being a young leader…People NEED you to lead! They are looking to you… so there is no time or space for insecurity… Another thing I’ve learned is that “if you think you can’t… you’re probably right.” Believe in your heart and mind that you CAN lead with God’s help! Praying for your ministry today!