I wonder if introversion is sometimes confused with social anxiety.

I’ve heard people describe their introversion as shyness or difficulty being around people or reluctance to make new relationships. 

But to describe it in that way is to misunderstand introversion. Introversion isn’t about social comfort as much as where people get their energy – how we recharge our batteries. Introverts recharge by being alone. Extroverts recharge by being with people. “Ambiverts” recharge by being alone or being with people. 

I believe that when such people are trying to describe their introversion they are actually describing their social anxiety – fear of being around people; fear of being rejected; fear of being humiliated. The former is part of their temperament; the latter is part of their heart and mind. 

Both introverts and extroverts have social anxiety (believe it or not). The danger for introverts is that they dress up social anxiety as introversion thereby opting out of social openness, gracious hospitality, and kingdom witness with their neighbors. The casualty is not only missing out on the mission but also the formation of God driving fear out of our hearts with God’s perfect love. 

The truth is that I know some +10 introverts who are some of the most fruitful evangelists, church planters, and public speakers on the planet. Their introversion is an asset rather than a hindrance for their work. 

Cards on the table: I’m an ambivert. I consistently test in the middle of the introversion – extroversion scale on Meyers-Briggs. I usually lean a bit to the extroversion side. This might surprise those who know me – that I’m not more extroverted. My wife is actually more extroverted than I am, and she is less “up front” and “in the center” than I tend to be. 

All that to say, I don’t have an agenda to shame introverts. I have too much introversion within me to do so! And I realize that it’s an extroverts’ world – lots of introverts are pressured to act like extroverts. I’m not suggesting that. 

I’m simply wondering if we would be more available to joining God in God’s work in this world if we – both introverts and extroverts – paid attention to the social anxiety that inhibits us in relationships. I think we would be. 

How do my musings compare with your experience of temperament and social anxiety? 

You’ve probably heard or used, like I have, the popular phrase “I’ve just got to get out of the way” and let God work.

The sentiment of this statement, I think, is that in any given situation we are prone to be self-absorbed, self-centered, self-focused. Our selfishness keeps us from being available to opportunities God gives us to grow or help others. 

To the extent that this is true, we definitely need to get out of the way. 

But I sense this phrase is also used in a different way: as a subtle shirk of responsibility; as a form of disengagement. “I don’t know how it’s going to happen so I’ll just get out of the way.” “If anything is going to happen it will have to be God.” And so what sounds like humble self-awareness might actually be another form of selfishness masquerading. 

The flip side of this idea is that God most certainly wants us IN the way. God wants to form us, to shape us, and to use us. Isn’t that the whole point of this cosmic project? The early church missionary Paul said that we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works. We are designed to be instruments of blessing in the hand of the Almighty. We are designed to be in the way of what God is doing; not as an obstacle, but as a conduit. 

So get in God’s way today. 

What are your reflections about this oft-used Christian phrase?