Inadequacy

Do you ever feel inadequate?

I often find myself in one of two extremes. I either find myself thinking that I am God’s gift to the world (which is SO not true :)) or I find myself thinking that I am despicable…how could God ever use me? (this second option is much more realistic...)

But when I stand in front of high school students every day…when I share what I know about the Bible and Biology…when I learn with them about things we both don’t know…I think, “There must be someone better for this job.”

And so, yet again, God leads me back to His Word for wisdom.

“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competency comes from God.” II Corinthians 3:5

“…We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.” II Corinthians 1:8-9

Being competent in God. Relying on God.

W. Ian Thomas learned this in his life, and his words are always an encouragement to me:
“It just came from every area of God’s Word, and very kindly and very lovingly the Lord seemed to make it plain to me that night, through my tears of bitterness: ‘You see, for seven years, with utmost sincerity, you have been trying to live for Me, on My behalf, the life that I have been waiting for seven years to live through you. I have been there the whole time. All the things you have been pleading for, all the things for which you have been asking, have been yours since the day seven years ago, at your request and invitation, I came into your heart at that Crusader boys’ camp; but you see, although you have given mental consent to the truth that I have been in your heart, and have accepted it as a theory, you have lived totally ignoring the fact. You have been busy trying to do for Me all that I can only do through you. Now supposing I am your life, and you begin to accept it as fact, then I am your strength! You have been pleading and begging for that for seven years. I am your victory in every area of your life, if you want it!’” (Edman, V.R. They Found the Secret. 1984)

So, it’s true! There is someone better for my job.

Jesus.

Am I letting Him live His life through me?

Luke 6:45 says, “For out of the overflow of his heart, his mouth speaks.” What is in my heart? Am I filling it with other things (like complaining or anger) that come out instead of Christ when I am squeezed? Or, can I truly say an Amen to this verse: “As they make music they will sing, ‘All my fountains are in You.’” (Psalm 87:7)?

May His words, wisdom, and joy flow out of my life…because my heart is filled with nothing less than Jesus.

And when we're talking about Jesus, inadequacy is never a problem.

He does everything well.