We all have those times when we feel that we are unable to overcome the tasks and trials surrounding us, whether because we feel we aren’t good enough, we aren’t strong enough, we don’t have enough, or the trial is simply too much for us to handle. Although the faithful Christian knows that God is in control, sometimes it feels a little unclear how He is helping us in a given situation (or maybe we just need a little reminder!).
Here are 3 ways God strengthens you, even when you’re feeling inadequate:
1) Through His Providence
Do you ever feel like you are were not blessed with enough talents? Like your church is too small? Like you don’t have enough money, time, or resources to accomplish what God asks? While these fears may seem real, they are in fact rooted and grounded Satan’s lies.
The truth is that God will give us everything we need (Romans 8:32). We must believe that if:
- God owns the whole world,
- He has asked us to obey and carry out certain commands, and
- He is a good God who wants to give and wants to save…
…then He will never hold back anything that we need for success. How could He be a good, just, and righteous God if He asked us to perform tasks we were incapable of completing for lack of resources? He owns the cattle on a thousand hills—He upholds the universe with His hands—He molded our very beings—and if we follow Him, there will be nothing He withholds from us that we need (Haggai 2:8).
I’m sure, if you believe in God that you believe somewhat in His providence and goodness—but how does that translate into your daily walk of faith? Do you act like this is true? Do you believe that He has made you capable of success? Do you truly believe that He is in control of everything? If we did reflect on this a little more, perhaps we wouldn’t have such a fear of failure or such feelings of overwhelm and inadequacy.
We don’t have to have “enough” anything for the task ahead. We may not have all the talent or resources, but our God has everything and when we submit ourselves to Him, we have a power and provision on our side greater than anything this earth can boast.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5).
“The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1).
“For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. [11] I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. [12] “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine” (Psalm 50:10-12).
2) Through His Protection
Sometimes we feel unequal to the task or trial at hand, but God has our backs. He will never, ever let you be tempted by anything that you can’t overcome (1 Corinthians 10:13). I believe that this is a promise—not a promise that we will never have hardship, or that we will never fall—but a promise that if we stand with God, nothing will cause us to lose our faith. Nothing can stand in our way if we stand with Christ (Romans 8:31ff).
We need to remember this whenever we face trial. He may allow you to face trials that test you to your very limits, but there is no trial that will be able to overcome you when you have God on your side. Alone, yes, the trial can make you fall—but with God? Never, ever. He won’t allow it.
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? [33] Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. [35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:31-39).
3) With His Power
When we look at ourselves and consider how strong we really are, we are forced to admit that our strength and power are limited. It is not so with our God. He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (unbound by space or time). Unlike us in our feeble, human bodies—He is unrestricted and limitless in might. This is why Paul says, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10). It’s not that you have to be strong enough for anything, but that He always is. Our strength comes from God.
Have you ever reflected upon the fact that you serve a God who made the lame walk? We still serve this God—the God that made the lame walk. I think we need to reflect on this more often. Because if He could do that, how much more can He do for us, as we stumble on our spiritual walk? What obstacles can stand in the way of such a God? Realize that this same God works to help rid us of our every obstacle today (Matthew 9:5). That same God is with us always (Matthew 28:18-20).
Christ will strengthen us for whatever we need to accomplish (Philippians 4:13). He is more powerful than anything we come up against (1 John 4:4).
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
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So as you continue your walk and you’re tempted to dwell on your own inadequacy, remember that it’s not your job to be all-powerful and all-sufficient. In fact, you can’t be. Only God is. We can’t do His part, we can only do ours and trust Him to make up for where we lack.
- You may sometimes feel like the trial is to much for you, but it is never too much for God (1 Corinthians 10:13).
- You will have so many opportunities to do good, and God will give you all the resources you need to succeed in His service (Haggai 2:8).
- You may sometimes feel weak and small, but you will never face anything stronger than the God who is in you (1 John 4:4).
You may at times be inadequate, it’s true. But it is also true that our God is always enough. More than enough. Exceedingly abundantly more. Even when we aren’t. Even when this life isn’t. When everything else in this broken world lets us down—He is always there. And He is everything we could ever possibly need.
May God strengthen you as you grow in your understanding of His strength and power!
In Him,
Chantelle Marie
Her Life, His Way 