There are times in life when we can be struck with feelings of complete inadequacy. We believe we have no idea how to do something, or how to tackle the task before us and we can start to feel inadequate and even powerless.
There is an account in the bible about some friends of Jesus who also felt inadequate. They had just witnessed Jesus’ death, His resurrection, and now His ascension into heaven, and they were perhaps wondering what to do next. They were no doubt feeling inadequate to the task of “going into all the world to share the good news of Jesus, just as He had asked them to do. Perhaps they wondered how a rag tag group of men and women were up to the task, and could carry such a responsibility. However Jesus had asked them to do one thing before they set off into all the world…
“And being assembled together with them, He (Jesus) commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, which, He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptised with water, but you shall be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many day from now.” (Acts 1:4-5)
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be My witnesses, telling people about Me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. – (Acts 1:8 NLT)
God knows that alone and in our own strength and abilities we are not up to the task. But with Him, and with His life and power within us we are able to do all things! When you welcome God into your life you instantly become a new creation, and God desires to then clothe your new life with power. We no longer have the same inabilities, constrictions and limitations that we used to. Jesus actually said, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. In fact, he will do even greater things…” (John 14:2)
What did Jesus do? He healed the sick, cast out demons, destroyed the works of the devil, raised the dead, walked on water, spoke with wisdom and authority, knew people’s thoughts and the intent of their hearts, multiplied food, and even walked through walls, and disappeared in front of crowds who were intent on harming him.
And Jesus Himself said, “we would do even greater things than He did while He walked the earth….”(John 14:2)
The list is endless of the challenges we can face in life, and the subsequent feelings of inadequacy, but God doesn’t want us to live our lives feeling that way. He has things for us to do and places for us to go, and the sooner we realise who we are in Him the faster we are going to be able to step into everything He has planned for us.
Today if you are feeling inadequate in some way, or perhaps even bored with your life I encourage you to lift your expectations of who Jesus says you can be if you invite Him into your life, and who you are if you have already. We may face some challenges, but they are nothing that God doesn’t have the answers and solutions to. Far too often we underestimate how powerful we are, and how much authority and ability we have been given. Stop thinking small, or that it’s impossible and too hard, because greater is He that is within you, and you CAN do all things though Jesus who gives your strength, because as He, is so we are in the world. (Philippians 4:13; 1 John 4:17)
“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (Jeremiah 32:37)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Prayer: Lord help me to understand what and who I am once I have invited you into my life. I am a new creation, and all limits are off. Please reveal to me, and use me to do the “greater things” today. In Jesus Name Amen.
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