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How to Overcome Inadequacies: Stop Thinking About Them
By Julie | November 7, 2008
Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed by everything I have to do, and want to, that I end up feeling I can’t get anything done. I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s felt that way. But when I allow a constant “to do” list to stream through my brain, it floods my alertness, and I get less done. Then, I wonder why I can’t get anything done, and what in the world am I supposed to be spending my time on anyway? Have I over-committed myself, or committed to the wrong things? So, I spent some time praying about this recently, and I think God sent a few solutions. Here’s what happened for me.
The Bible: I was reading 1 Chronicles 28. King David was approaching the end of his life. He had gathered many things together to make the temple for “His” God. He even had the plans drawn up. He knew he would not do the actual building on the temple, because God had already told him he wouldn’t. So he called all his people together, including his son and predecessor, Solomon. During this meeting he explained all the things he’d gathered, and the plans for the building. Then he tells the group the work on the temple would be done under Solomon’s reign. He told everyone present they would need to help Solomon, because he was young, and major work was expected of him.
Verses 11 through 18 give specific details of the plans and all the gathered supplies. As I was reading this section I got a little bored, it was just details, not a story. Frankly, the incredible weight of gold recorded didn’t interest me all that much. I thought, hum, that’s a lot of gold, and I’m bored by it. Then it hit me, or God spoke to me through what I read, this was a HUGE project for Solomon. Few people have ever had such a big project to manage, and Solomon didn’t have the tools we have today to help him. There were no bulldozers, cranes, or even forklifts driving around this work site. These workers carried the supplies they needed. But David, guided by God, had all the supplies needed for Solomon. God made sure it was provided for.
1. Overwhelmed and Unqualified: But what was Solomon thinking as he looked at the piles of gold, and silver. Their exorbitant weights were told to him, and he looked at the plans to figure out how it would all go together. Gulp! He had to have been thinking, “How am I ever going to accomplish that!?” If I were Solomon I would’ve been afraid, and felt completely unqualified and inadequate.
That’s how I feel when I get overwhelmed by everything I think I have to get done in a day, or even a morning sometimes. I know if God wants me to do something, it is possible. I feel like he’s putting plans in place for my life, and giving me the knowledge I need along the way. He even gives us the tools to put it all together. But as I look at the whole thing, sitting in piles around me, it’s so overwhelming. I wonder if I’ll make the right decisions. If I do it wrong, I fail, and possibly fail my family. I bet Solomon felt like he might fail, that’s probably the reason it was wisdom he asked for from God. He knew he was given a great responsibility. In the end, he built the most amazing temple for God, probably ever, with what would be considered primitive tools and plans today.
2. Guidance from God: “All this (the plans for the temple),” David said, “I have written from the hand of the Lord upon me, and he gave me understanding in all the details of the plan.” — 1 Chronicles 28:19
Like David, how times have we been creating something in our lives, and it came from “the hand of the Lord upon us”? We’re just everyday people, so I’m sure we don’t think God would lays his hand upon us. Still, I can’t help but notice people whose lives changed dramatically, over time, when they let God truly lead. Wasn’t His hand upon them? If we listen more thoroughly, and follow God’s path, maybe we’ll also have understanding in the details of the plans we’re given for our lives.
David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished. The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the work on the temple of God, and every willing man skilled in any craft will help you in all the work. The officials and all the people will obey your every command.” — 1 Chronicles 28:20-21
Are we willing? It’s easy for me to do the things I’m comfortable with, things that feel like second nature. But maybe God had put skills in each of us that go beyond our comfort zones, and we’re so afraid to follow him to what we are afraid of. When I get scared I feel so inadequate. So, if I’m not accomplishing what God wants for me, maybe the problem is me. But if I can force myself, I might find God has skilled me in ways I never knew, and he will help me in all the work. Maybe I just need to draw my “strength and courage” from him.
3. But how? Jesus!: I was thinking about all this, and Bott (Christian) radio was playing in the background. I didn’t hear much of the program because I was getting laundry going and helping my kids. But as I sat down to write I heard this, though it’s somewhat paraphrased…
We all feel inadequate. But, anything that drives you to God is good. And inadequacies are very good at driving you there.
Last Sunday the sermon at church was on “What God really meant”. The sermon said we put so much into our walk with God, trying to be perfect, and draw messages to fit our lives. But, as the sermon says, God really just wants us to know his son. So what he really tried to say was: Jesus.
If that’s the answer, how do I overcome when I feel inadequate, and start believing I’ll never accomplish the things God wants from me? Maybe our problems will be answered if we quit focusing on everything that’s wrong with our lives, and with our person. Maybe what we should be focusing on is asking Jesus. Ask Him to lead our minds. Ask Him, what should we do this week? Today? This morning? This second? Then we just do it. Maybe Jesus has already given us the supplies, and the skills. Maybe he’s just waiting for us to go through the step-by-step process to get the work done. Then it’s not so overwhelming because we’re not doing it on our own, we’re taking it step by step. It’s very easy to do one thing, but overwhelming when we feel we need to do a thousand. But, if we do one thing at a time, eventually the thousand will be completed. Then maybe, in those steps, our problems get solved. And we have the added bonus on not having to worry about them, and understanding God more along the way.
Of course life makes accomplishing this challenging and much more difficult. What do you think? What helps you to accomplish plans?
Topics: Encouragement, Faith, Life and Living | No Comments »
