Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:4-5
How do you respond to challenges that seem beyond your capabilities? Some people feel overwhelmed with a sense of inadequacy, and therefore give up and walk away from the situation. Others approach the undertaking with confidence in themselves and their own abilities. For believers, neither of these is an appropriate response because one exhibits a lack of trust in God and the other displays pride. According to 2 Corinthians 3:4-5, our confidence is not in ourselves, but in Christ. There is nothing within us that makes us competent for the opportunities that God gives us. He alone is the source our adequacy. In each difficult situation we must make a choice to believe that the Lord will equip us. Neither our circumstance nor our feelings of insecurity can ever negate His promise.
Feelings of inadequacy can be good if we respond to them in the right way.
1. Inadequacy drives us to God – We can’t but He can. In our weakness we turn to God for help and guidance. As we depend upon God we gain an understanding of Him and His ways which we’ve never known before. As Paul Crouch’s song says, “For if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them, I’d never know what faith in God could do.”
2. Inadequacy relieves us of the burden of trying to do God’s will in our own strength – The Lord doesn’t intend that we accomplish His work in our limited power and knowledge. That’s why He sometimes gives us tasks or situations that remind us how weak we really are. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do all this through him (Christ) who gives me strength.” Whatever the Lord requires of us we have the promise of His presence and His power to encourage and help us.
3. Inadequacy forces us to depend on the Holy Spirit – At the moment of our conversion the Holy Spirit comes to reside permanently within us. From that point onward the Holy Spirit works to enable us to become who the Lord designed us to be and accomplish what He’s planned for us to do. When the tasks feel beyond our abilities, we have the privilege of relying upon and walking with the powerful Spirit of God.
4. Inadequacy provides the Lord the opportunity to demonstrate what he can do with a little – With just a boy’s lunch Jesus fed thousands. The Lord doesn’t need much to accomplish something awesome. He can take whatever abilities, talents, or gifts we have and do amazing things. There is no one in the world that can accomplish what we can in the way we can if God is using us in the way He designed for us to function. The One who made each of us can do more with what He has given to us than we can on our own. Inadequacy frees God to use us to the maximum of our potential.
5. Inadequacy allows God to receive all the glory – When we are incapable in ourselves and God is accomplishing His will through us, all the credit goes to Him. Our insufficiencies constantly remind us that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).
6. Inadequacy enables us to live in contentment and quietness – When we’re relying on Jesus to work in and through us, we don’t have to struggle and strive. If feelings of inadequacy come, we can immediately turn them over to Him. In the midst of the situation, he will bring calm and relieve our stress as he promised: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27)
What do you think would happen if instead of bemoaning your inadequacies, you thanked the Lord for them? That is what the apostle Paul did: “Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “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. 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.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Let’s make sure that we allow each challenge that is beyond our capabilities to be an opportunity for God to be GOD in our lives.
Adequate In Christ,
Pastor Steve