The Bible gives us a lot of examples of people who found the courage to be themselves by believing that God loved them for who they were.
What we’ve experienced is that living by religious rules is a very tempting way to avoid facing the insecurities in our hearts.
The Bible teaches how to build confidence in God, not self.
A courageous person is someone who isn’t shaken by circumstances, may experience fear but doesn’t live in it, and is secure and strong no matter what. Does this describe you?
Pray about your lack of trust in God. What areas of your life are you unwilling to trust God with, and how has this affected your desire to pray? How has it affected your desire to read your Bible?