Your Inadequacy And God’s Power

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4)

​​18 I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.” (Ephesians 1:18-19)

“For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”  (2 Timothy 1:7)

What’s our natural response to feeling inadequate?

We cover up.       We hide out.        We put down.

You are set free from fear not by great successes, but by how you respond to difficult circumstances!

  • Respond to incurable weaknesses with dependence on God.

9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

“A self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face.”  (Proverbs 10:8) [TLB]

➤ Start here: worship weekly! 

“So I gaze on You in the sanctuary to see Your strength and Your glory.” (Psalm 63:2)

  •  Respond to unreasonable people reasonably.

1 Therefore I, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling You have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, and with patience, accepting one another in love …” (Ephesians 4:1-2)

 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone.”  (Romans 12:18)

  ➤ Start here: picture God’s amazing love for you!

16 I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power in the inner man through His Spirit, 17 and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love …” (Ephesians 3:16-18)

  • Respond to impossible problems with faith.

For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

“He replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”(Luke 18:27)

“Then He said to them, ‘Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?’  (Mark 4:40)

➤ Start here:  Look at what God has made!

“Oh, Lord God! You Yourself made the heavens and earth by Your great power and with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!”  (Jeremiah 32:17)