A lot of times I feel inadequate. Like I don’t have what it takes to finish what I am called to do. The second I find something to brag on myself about, I mess up on something else. A friend of mine posted this passage on facebook a couple days ago:
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 Cor. 12:7-10
It was so encouraging to know that my weaknesses make it easier for God’s power to be seen in me. When I feel inadequate it becomes that much easier for God to be given the glory He deserves. Another friend of mine commented on this passage with this quote from Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
– Return to Love
I am encouraged that even though I may feel weak, inadequate, and lacking the confidence necessary to be who I was created to be, I have God’s power to do the most amazing things with my life, and that starts with the small tasks in front of me today. I hope that everyone can be encouraged by this.
-Rachel
