At certain times in our life, all of us will have feelings of inadequacy. Perhaps your job requires a new skill that seems beyond your ability; maybe a relationship is not progressing the way you had hoped; or it could be that you have been asked to serve in a ministry for which you lack experience. These situations are never comfortable, but they may not be entirely negative. In fact, feeling that you don’t have what it takes can actually be a blessing rather than a barrier in your life.
A sense of inadequacy is oftentimes a roadblock that prevents us from experiencing God’s best. It can lead to fear of failure or the feeling that we will not measure up to expectations of family, employers, church associates, or friends.
Sometimes, when we regard ourselves as unqualified for certain relationships or tasks, we try to rationalize avoiding responsibilities and healthy risks. For example, if people lack training or a certain spiritual gift, they might feel justified in declining opportunities like teaching Sunday school or taking a mission trip. But that is not a good excuse; when God calls us to an assignment, none of us really should feel adequate in and of ourselves to accomplish it.
By turning our backs on a task God assigns, we suffer the loss of a blessing He intended.
Christians should ask, How can I experience God’s best in my life when I feel unqualified and unworthy of His blessing?
The key is found in 2 Corinthians 3:5: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God. . . .” This confession of Paul’s own shortcomings comes just a few verses after he described believers as “a fragrance of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) The people who observe us can sense “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and self-control” radiating from our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23) Even though unbelievers may dislike aspects of our behavior or beliefs, something about God’s followers is attractive, like a flora scent—namely, Jesus Christ living His life in and through us.
Don’t let your insecurities limit you today. Trust in the influence of God’s Spirit in your life. He will make you a blessing in every avenue of your life. He will not make you an engineer instantly but he will empower you to become one. He will not force a relationship to be that chosen relationship but he will guide the right one to you. So lighten up today and just do your best and trust the rest to God.
I will be home tomorrow. Michael