Do you ever feel inadequate?

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I’m sure I can’t be the ONLY person on the planet who struggles with feelings of inadequacy. So, since I’m probably typical of most humans, I’m going to assume that many of you also feel inadequate on many occasions in your life.

Here are some of the things I’ve struggled with over the  years – feeling like I’m a failure:

• as a friend
• as a wife
• as a mother
• as a homeschooler
• as a housekeeper
• in my walk with the Lord
• and feeling like I have no skills or talents

I’m sure my list could go on and on.

One thing I’ve realized over the years, NO ONE is as big a failure or as inadequate as I often feel!

So, if it isn’t as true as it feels to me, WHERE do all these feelings of inadequacy come from?

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Rom 8:33-34

There is one who is always seeking to destroy us.

The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” Job 1:7

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. Rev 12:10

Now, of course, none of us are perfect. The reality is that we DO fail – and often! But there is such a difference in living our lives in fear and shame, weighed down by failure VERSUS living our lives in hope and joy, knowing the transforming power that is working in us.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Rom 8:1

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God…2 Cor 3:5

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Cor 12:9

We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
1 John 3:19-22

So the question comes back to us. If we really BELIEVE that we are adequate in Jesus, if the enemy has NOTHING to condemn us of, if we are being CHANGED into His image, how do we live our lives?

But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.” Luke 9:13

We live our lives TRUSTING that what God commands us to do, He gives the POWER in His Spirit to do it!

This is knowing that we, in and of ourselves, have no strength to accomplish the will of God. BUT we are no longer alone in our selves! He’s filled us with His Spirit to accomplish anything according to His will. ANYTHING!

And finally, our hearts need to be fully centered in the sovereignty of God. Knowing that God is in charge. He was the  One who chose me as a wife for Kevin, as a mother to my 8 blessings, as a friend, as a mentor…He allowed me to play a part in the  lives of all of these people. And He knew where I would fail. All of that is a part of His sovereign plan. He uses me – even my failures – in the lives of those around me FOR THEIR GOOD!!

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Rom 8:28

Trust. This is at the heart of rejecting those overwhelming feelings of inadequacy. Trusting in God, not in me. Then I can lift my eyes to the Lord, knowing that He cares for me!

Blogs I might be linking to:
Menu Planning Monday, On The Menu Monday, Marital Oneness, The Better Mom, Multitudes on Monday, Hear it On Sunday, Sharing His Bounty, What Joy Is Mine, Domestically Divine Tuesdays, Time Warp Wife, Encourage One Another, Living Well Wednesdays,Legacy Leaver Thursday, What’s Up Wednesday, Raising Homemakers, Thought Provoking Thursday, Hearts 4 Home, Thankful Thursday, Raising Mighty Arrows Thursdays, Thought Provoking Thursday, First Day of My Life Thankful Thursdays, Thankful, Thankful Thursday Brown-eyed Bell(e), Big Family Fridays, Faith Filled Fridays, Home Focused Friday, Homemaking Link-up Week-end