THE problem with many of us is somehow we felt we have to be good enough for God to accept us instead of accepting His goodness which He has already bestowed upon us. The truth is we will never be good enough. Never good enough to hold that leader position in church. Never good enough to be called His child. Never good enough to ask for His forgiveness. Never good enough to be serve Him. Never good enough, period.
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Have you ever been overwhelmed by the standards you feel the world seemed to set on you? As a Christian, we’ve been told to behave a certain way, to talk a certain way and to produce certain results. And yet in our daily struggle to achieve perfection, often we felt we have fallen short. No, I’m not talking about accepting the any-so-how lifestyles, but I’m talking about feelings of inadequacy that dragged down many well intentioned Christians out of the path of God’s will for their lives.
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the standards you feel the world seemed to set on you? As a Christian, we’ve been told to behave a certain way, to talk a certain way and to produce certain results. And yet in our daily struggle to achieve perfection, often we felt we have fallen short. No, I’m not talking about accepting the any-so-how lifestyles, but I’m talking about feelings of inadequacy that dragged down many well intentioned Christians out of the path of God’s will for their lives.
All of us are on a journey towards perfection and none of us has arrived. If we have, then we would not be here. The fact that we are still sojourning here give us hope that there is still time for improvement. But how can we improve or even find the motivation for improvement if we are so quick to give up? He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] Hebrews 13:5(Amp). You know, God doesn’t have to say anything twice. Bible says He spoke (once) and it was done. But the fact that He had to repeat Himself thrice indicates that there must be an important point that He wants us not to miss. If Almighty God said He will not in any way leave me without support, who am I then to go up and question the integrity of His Word?
The problem with many of us is somehow we felt we have to be good enough for God to accept us instead of accepting His goodness which He has already bestowed upon us. The truth is we will never be good enough. Never good enough to hold that leader position in church. Never good enough to be called His child. Never good enough to ask for His forgiveness. Never good enough to be serve Him. Never good enough, period. It is because of Christ’s adequacy that our inadequacy is dissolved. I remember a pastor friend once said that people come to God’s throne with their sack of problems and willingly lay it at His feet. The moment they finished their prayer, they load back that sack on their shoulder before they leave.” It is so easy to tell non-Christians that Christ love them unconditionally and that the moment they accept Him, they will be transformed. Old things will be gone and all things will become new. But how easy is it to accept that fact for ourselves? The common lines that we use for evangelism are the very basic truths that we need to re-convince ourselves of. Since when must we be talented enough for Him, or smart enough or skilful enough? I like the saying that God does not call the equipped but He equips the called. And how many times have we seen God uses inadequate people?
How many times have the disciples requested that Jesus send the crowd away because they were tired and emotionally drained? But notice that it was these times that Jesus stepped in with a miracle. For example during the incident where He feed the 5,000 with just five loaves and two fishes. The disciples wanted a break from their duties and Jesus utter something ridiculous: “You give them something to eat. Matthew 14:16” What Jesus? You must be kidding? Incase You hadn’t notice, here are 5,000 men! Whether its 5 men or 5,000 really does not make any difference to the Lord.
You might say: But my life is in a mess, how can I accept the assignment to lead others in church, or I don’t even have a consistent personal prayer life, how can I agree to coordinate a prayer meeting every week? I would be a hypocrite if I volunteer to serve, putting up a front that in reality I am not. Don’t you think that Jesus knew it would be impossible for the disciples to feed the 5,000 men? Don’t you think that He knew that you don’t have a disciplined prayer life? Don’t you think He knew that your inadequacy will not qualify you? Isn’t that the reason why He came? So that He can take the little that the disciples had and turn it around for His glory, to impart unto them the ability and the resources from heaven that only comes by faith. How many times had He told you to fear not, but only believe? If your life is not disciplined, then you ought to do something about it. Not by quitting and finding excuses but to accept His call and receive His strength for your weakness. If you are put out in the open where other pairs of eyes can see you, you will have no choice but to pick yourself up and soar. But if you continue to hide yourself behind excuses and reasons, you will never find the need to have to jump into the wave of change.And with that willingness, yield yourself. He will not only grant you the ability and the resources but also allows you to encounter the greatest experience of your lives which you would have otherwise forfeited because you think you are not good enough. That’s exactly the enemy’s plan. To deceive believers by telling them how low, how bad, how terrible, how unqualified they are and if they believe it, they will pull out voluntarily from serving God and missed God’s will for their lives. God reminded us that “…the just shall live by faith; and if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:39 I don’t know about you but I want God to take pleasure in me. I don’t want for Him to ever feel disappointed with me, especially when He has clearly indicated that He will never fail or give up on me. So the only person who can give up on you is yourself.
Lift up your eyes today and see yourself in a whole new light. Drop all those baggages of despair, of inadequacy, feelings of disappointments and thoughts about what a hypocrite I am if I try to be someone I’m not. Jesus didn’t think of you that way. He came down all the way from glory so that He could take your place and that you could take His. Accept that assignment, take on the challenge and go in the strength of God because its not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit. Zechariah 4:6
Be willing. Be ready. Yield yourself wholly and see the salvation of God unfold before your very eyes.
Be blessed my friend.
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