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Feelings of Inadequacy

By Jessica Chenoweth  

…that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.                       2 Timothy 3:17

Have you ever felt not ready for something God has called you to do? Maybe like me you’ve thought, I’m not good enough, I’m not strong enough, or I’m just not ready for this.  

When God called Moses to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and into the wilderness, Moses felt inadequate. To be an effective leader of over a million people would require him to be well-spoken and confident; both things Moses was not. However, it was his inadequacy that qualified Moses to be God’s perfect choice.

Similarly in the New Testament, we find Paul asking God on three different occasions to deliver him from what Paul called, “a thorn in the flesh.” Whatever this affliction was, Paul felt it hindered him from being able to complete the physical and mental demands necessary to be effective in his ministry—to reach lost people with the glorious gospel. However, instead of answering Paul’s prayer, God taught Paul that it was this very weakness that best equipped him to complete God’s call on his life. It’s where Paul was weak that he’d have to rely on God’s strength.

It’s our inadequacies that keep us dependent on God. It’s in our very weaknesses that we learn to rely on His strength to get us through. In fact, just like Paul, it’s the moment we realize that we’ll never have what it takes and must fully depend on God, that we receive the strength we need. God’s timing rarely aligns with ours, but we can trust that if He is calling us to do something, He also will equip us with whatever we’ll need to complete the task.

Lord, help us not to allow our inadequacies to keep us from fulfilling the things You’ve called us to do. Help us to choose to trust You in the midst of our not-ready fears.

Jessica Chenoweth is a writer and speaker passionate about helping men and women to live out an authentic faith rooted in a genuine relationship with Christ. You can connect with her on Facebook or Twitter.

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