Is it just me, or do you ever struggle with feelings of inadequacy? Feeling like you’re not good enough? Or like you just don’t have it in you to do the things God has called you to?
You’re not alone my friend. I’ve struggled with those feelings for a long time, but it has been especially difficult this summer.
I’ll feel the weight of the responsibilities of life pressing down on my shoulders. How can I be a loving, sacrificial husband? How do I lead my family spiritually, emotionally, and financially? How do I balance work demands? Maybe you can relate to some of what I’ve been going through. I’m sure you have a number of other pressing responsibilities as well. And if you’re feeling weak and inadequate like I often do, I have good news.
God is not surprised by any of those feelings.
His Word gives you and I reassurance that we have a place to turn to. You see, I had to come to terms with the fact that on my own, I can’t do anything. At least not anything good or of eternal value. In John 15:5, Jesus tells us, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” I had read that verse numerous times, but it wasn’t until this year that I really started thinking and praying through that last phrase.
I hadn’t realized how much I tried to accomplish things on my own. If something didn’t work, I’d try harder. Of course, I kept stumbling and eventually, just felt burnt out. “Maybe I’m not the right person for this job, Lord.” “Why can’t I relate better to others?” I would say things of that sort to God, ready to give up.
One recent afternoon, God pointed me to the life of Paul. A man who had the weight of tremendous responsibility, and a man who endured far more hardships than I ever have. I imagine Paul may have wrestled with some of the same feelings of inadequacies that I do. In fact, when Paul was pleading with the Lord, God said, “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul would go on to say in the next verse, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
If you find yourself in a place of weakness today or are feeling inadequate, know that while hard, that’s not a bad place to be. God had to bring me to that place (and still often does!) because I relied on my own strength and efforts.
Instead of trying to be a superhero, what if we humbled ourselves? What if we started each day, and continually throughout the day, asked God to give us the strength we need? What if we asked for His mercies which are new each morning? What if we asked for His wisdom to make difficult decisions?
My prayer for you today is that you would hand over your burdens to Jesus. I pray that you would be easy on yourself because you were not meant to do it all on your own. Trust His Spirit to guide you, lead you, to pick you up when you fall, to give you His perfect strength, and give Him all the glory for it.
When you are weak, He is strong.
By His Grace,
Billy Peterson
Children’s Ministry Director