Do You Measure Up?
Have you ever felt like you didn’t quite measure up? Did you think that maybe you weren’t the most suited person for the position? Could you name 2 or 3 other people who get the job done faster, easier and even better?
Well, if you haven’t heard it before, let me be the first to tell you – you’re not alone! We’ve all experienced moments when we’ve second guessed our abilities, and perhaps even our right, to be at a certain station in life. If left unchecked, those thoughts can lead to crippling fear, agonizing self doubt, and a cycle of depression, keeping you from fulfilling your God given destiny.
If you do find yourself confronted by these thoughts and feelings, let me offer the perfect remedy… accept them! Think someone could do your job better? You’re probably right! Know someone who is obviously more gifted in a particular area? That’s likely to be true. After you’ve accepted those thoughts, be sure to turn to the Word.
You see, I Corinthians 1:27 says, “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise… the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.” In other words, God has this knack for taking that which seems ill-suited, a bit less than, the mistake, not quite up to par… and turning it into something beautiful and fit to be used, fashioned and molded under the loving tutelage of the Master.
In Psalm 139:14, David praises God because he is, “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and that should be our praise as well. Each of us has been given special talents and God wants us to use them for His glory – not worrying about how we measure up to those around us. Just think of all the heroes of the Bible who clearly did not meet man’s standards, but because of their obedience to God and their ability to shake off doubt, enjoyed success in the task laid before them. Indeed, Christ’s words stand true, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness,” (II Cor. 12:9). When we readily admit our own limitations, God is there to enable us and to perfect us for His work.
So no matter where feelings of inadequacy originate, whether from our own imaginations, family, close friends, church folk or the father of lies himself, as long as we do our part and ‘walk worthy of the vocation [we are] called,’ as Ephesians 4:1 states, God will surely do His part to ensure that we are fully equipped and able to get the job done.
Many blessings,
S. Danielle Benjamin