Feelings of Inadequacy

Life is filled with struggles that reveal our human inadequacy.  These struggles span the cross section of the physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial sectors of our lives.  We encounter some of these struggles on a daily basis yet we do not have to feel hopeless or helpless.  The Lord has already provided a remedy for those moments of defeat and discouragement.  The Apostle Paul shares these words of encouragement and strength with us in 2 Corinthians 3:5, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (NKJV).  Each of us can identify with those moments in which we were incapable of meeting the challenges that life had placed before us.  We identified our weaknesses and failed to realize that Christ would provide the strength that we needed to move through that particular situation.  Each of us can identify what we lack in our lives yet we fail to remember that Jehovah-Jireh, our Provider, is at work on our behalf as we face the challenges of life.

Let us take a moment and consider that our inadequacies can actually be converted into a blessing from God.  How can that statement be true?  Our inadequacy drives us to God as we recognize our helplessness.  We cry out to God and let Him know that we need Him to provide the strength that we need.  Our recognition of our inadequacy relieves us of the burden of trying to do God's will in our own power and strength.  Many of us try to please God through the work and ability of flesh when in reality that is impossible to do.  We please God when we walk in faith, trust, and obedience to the provision of His love and grace.  Christianity is more than just a form of spiritual performance; it is a life that is fully surrendered to the mighty presence of God who provides the courage and strength to live out the will of God in our daily lives.  God is able to give us His peace as we rely upon Him.  Many Christians live in a spirit of restlessness and frustration as we identify our faults, failures, weaknesses, and our inadequacies.  Rest assured that the the "accuser of the brethren" will join  in the process of self-humiliation and self-depreciation if we allow him that opportunity.  I am not advocating that we walk in pride and arrogance but I am advocating that we walk in the provision that the death of Jesus Christ has made for us.  Remember, "...our sufficiency is from God."