So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us [Hardcover]

Beth Moore (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 2, 2010

2011 Retailers Choice Award winner!
Perhaps one of the biggest issues all women face is their own insecurity. Beth Moore, one of today’s most admired and trusted Christian writers, wants women to be free from the insecurity trap. So Long, Insecurity will strike a chord with women everywhere, as Beth speaks truth into the lives of readers, showing them how to deal with their innermost fears, rediscover their God-given dignity, and develop a whole new perspective—a stronger sense of self. Women of all ages and backgrounds will resonate with this message of security and discover truths that will free them emotionally and spiritually and lead them to a better life as they walk with God.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Prolific Bible teacher and women's ministry leader Moore (Get Out of That Pit) moves away from her characteristic dead-on expositions of scriptural principles in her newest; the topic is insecurity, and the content, she admits, is close to an autobiography. Moore, always transparent with her own personal struggles, is refreshingly so throughout this text. Readers will be chortling in laughter one moment and sucking air the next as Moore exposes the many faces of female insecurity. The author names and claims each one, then defuses every bit of power these nonsensical inner voices possess by countering their lies with God's truth. Women, no matter what their age, battle against advertising's siren call for unattainable physical perfection; the habit of making a man's love the ultimate validation; and the worldly definition of success as money, power, and status. Moore uses personal essays, women's true confessions, expressive prayers, and lots of commonsense suggestions to jar women out of their insecure rut. Readers will delve into this work and find themselves comfortably uncomfortable, and this is a very good thing. (Feb.)
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Review

So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us Beth Moore. Tyndale House, $24.99 (350p) ISBN 978-1-4143-3472-1

Prolific Bible teacher and women's ministry leader Moore (Get Out of That Pit) moves away from her characteristic dead-on expositions of scriptural principles in her newest; the topic is insecurity, and the content, she admits, is close to an autobiography. Moore, always transparent with her own personal struggles, is refreshingly so throughout this text. Readers will be chortling in laughter one moment and sucking air the next as Moore exposes the many faces of female insecurity. The author names and claims each one, then defuses every bit of power these nonsensical inner voices possess by countering their lies with God's truth. Women, no matter what their age, battle against advertising's siren call for unattainable physical perfection; the habit of making a man's love the ultimate validation; and the worldly definition of success as money, power, and status. Moore uses personal essays, women's true confessions, expressive prayers, and lots of commonsense suggestions to jar women out of their insecure rut. Readers will delve into this work and find themselves comfortably uncomfortable, and this is a very good thing. (Feb.) --Publishers Weekly, December 14, 2009

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.; First Edition edition (February 2, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414334729
• ISBN-13: 978-1414334721
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (185 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,407 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Beth Moore has written many best-selling books and is a dynamic teacher and a prolific Bible-study author whose public speaking engagements take her across the United States to challenge tens of thousands. Beth is focused on teaching women all over the world and is known and respected wherever she goes. She is a dedicated wife and mother of two adult daughters and lives in Houston, Texas, where she leads Living Proof Ministries and teaches an adult Sunday school class at her church.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#61 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

#61 in Books > Religion & Spirituality

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 166 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Once again, Beth Moore has inspired me February 15, 2010

By Novel Teen

Format:Hardcover

Review by Jill Williamson

I love Beth Moore. I've never met her, but I've done several of her Bible studies and had the privilege of attending one of her conferences. The woman inspires me. Why? Because she's real. She's suffered through life, just like the rest of us, and she refuses to let that define her. Praise Jesus for that! That, and her passion for studying the Word of God, draws me, and thousands of other women, to her like sheep to a shepherd. She is a disciple of Jesus. She teaches His truth in a wonderful, personal, life-changing way.

So when I saw this book, I knew I needed it. I've always had low self-esteem. And I am plagued by insecurity. The smallest little comment will send me into a spiral of woe. One example, I have the nasty habit of interpreting faces. I can read minds, too, you know. If someone looks at me funny, I know I did something to make them upset with me, and I can't stand it until I know everything is okay again. I've also trained myself to interpret email tones. I entertain my husband every time I read an email to him. He says I read every word with a negative, attacking tone, as if the author has a personal agenda against me--or someone.

One of my husband's most telling phrases is: It must be exhausting being you.

Well, ouch.

But he's right. It is exhausting being so insecure. I don't mean to do this to myself. And I'm tired of it. And a bit ticked off, as Beth was in the beginning of her book. Having read the book, I will say that I now have confidence that I can beat this thing. Insecurity distracts our minds from living the life God intends for us. It keeps us weak instead of strong. It keeps us distant instead of loving. It keeps us judging instead of reaching out and building lasting friendships.

Once again, Beth Moore has inspired me. I'm saying, "So long, Insecurity! You don't own this girl!" Whoo hoo! Now that's something to get excited about. If you've ever felt insecure, sit down and talk it out with Beth. And that's exactly what this book was. A nice, long, heart to heart with Beth Moore about a topic that plagues us. I highly recommend it.

183 of 208 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars ok, but not Beth Moore's best February 4, 2010

By M. Johnson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've received so much benefit from Beth Moore's Bible studies, particularly her studies of Esther and David.

But, I didn't find this book to be helpful. In my opinion, there isn't enough content here to justify a book.

The first half of the book discusses seven factors that contribute to women struggling with insecurity: instability in the home, significant loss, rejection, life change events such as a move, contemporary culture, and pride/perfectionism.

I was frustrated by the fact that these chapters consisted largely of anecdotes from Beth's friends and readers of her blog. Beth referred to having done "research" for these chapters, but that research wasn't evident in her writing. Missing from these chapters was any sort of in-depth analysis of the seven issues.

The second half of the book stresses the importance of finding our security in God. This is so true and is certainly worth stating again and again! But missing from the chapters was the rich interweaving of Scripture and practical application material that I've come to expect from Beth's teaching. Again, anecdotes came at the expense of depth and exposition.

However, there was one chapter in the book that really spoke to me - Chapter 8, A Beautiful Prize Called Dignity. This chapter contains a study of Proverbs 31:25, a verse that Beth beautifully revisits at the end of the book. This chapter represents Beth Moore at her best and is why I so value her teaching.

Finally, Beth briefly touches on the importance of discernment with respect to the contemporary culture. This material was intriguing, but was an aside so could not be presented in detail. I would love to see Beth pick up this topic in future teaching.

Bottom line: for me, the book didn't live up to the high standard Beth has set in her earlier teaching.

51 of 61 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Womenlivingwell.org's Review February 3, 2010

By C. Joseph

Format:Hardcover

Today Beth Moore's newest book titled "So Long Insecurity: You've been a bad friend to us" is released in stores. I had the privilege of previewing the book. Beth says in the opening of this book that this is as close to an autobiography as she's ever written. Her humble and open heart is spilled out on every page as she openly shares her own insecurities.

Beth defines insecurity plain and simply: "not secure". Then she goes further in each chapter digging down into the depths of insecurity from self-doubt to perfectionism to preoccupation with self - she reveals many types of insecurities we all deal with.

She reminds us that all we have to do is be born on planet earth to be insecure. A host of troubles are common to humankind. We should be careful who we covet or who we judge as "having it all". Nobody has everything! We think - well if I had that house or that body or that pretty face or that fabulous man or that degree I'd be secure too. But what we are saying is money, beauty, a great man, or prestige will make us secure. That is all false!

At one point she says "women use men like mirrors" to see if they are okay. In our media saturated culture, the bar for beauty has been raised to a standard that our grandma's did not have to deal with!

So what do we do with all these insecurities? Psalm 29:11 says "The Lord gives his people strength; the Lord grants his people security." There is nothing secure in this world - we must cling to Jesus for our strength and security. This book is a great reminder of God's truth on security.

Walk with the King!
Courtney
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