Synonyms – inept, incompetent, defective, imperfect, incomplete
Ever felt that way? Do you have areas in your life that you continue to fall short? Places you simply cannot seem to overcome.
Have you described yourself as: inadequate, defective, incomplete? Me too. I did just this morning. Just a couple of hours ago. In fact, it the very first thought that entered my mind today was “Debbie, you are so inadequate!”
I know if I’m having these thoughts about myself, you are too. At least on occasion. At least some of you…perhaps not all of you.
You see there is this one place in my life that I continue to struggle…for those of you that know me well, you can probably identify “that” area. All weekend I berated myself for being incompetent, defective and just plain hard-headed. It’s no wonder my first thoughts this morning just picked up where they left off last night.
I dutifully completed my “devotion” this morning…and here is what it said, in part:
“Pain and problems are opportunities to demonstrate your trust in Me. Bearing your circumstances bravely – even thanking Me for them – is one of the highest forms of praise. This sacrifice of thanksgiving rings golden-toned bells of Joy throughout heavenly realms. On earth also, your patient suffering sends out ripples of good tidings in ever-widening circles. When suffering strikes, remember that I am sovereign and I can bring good out of everything. Do not try to run from pain or hide from problems. Instead, accept adversity in My Name, offering it up to Me for My Purposes. Thus, your suffering gains meaning and draws you closer to Me.” (Jesus Calling, October 14)
Even in reading this devotion, my response was not “Thank you Jesus”…it was, “I’m not suffering for You…I’m suffering because I’m an idiot and keep making poor decisions…blah blah blah”
Do you ever do that??? Just decide that your problems are bigger than God…That He’s standing there with His arms folded looking down on you and waiting for you to “help yourself” this time…that the only “good” stuff comes from those circumstances that are out of your control? That when you make poor choices, whether once, or over and over again, that God just throws up His hands and waits it out, until you decide to “do better” next time??
My gracious…that was me this morning…and Jesus so gently spoke to me…in a tender, still, quiet voice…
”Debbie, in Me, you are enough. In Me, you are adequate. In Me, you are perfect. In Me, you are complete. I will use ALL things for good…those situations that I have allowed, and those that you have created, and yes, even those that you create over and over again. I NEVER give up on you. There are people in your life that may have given up on you. There are people in your life that may label you ‘inadequate’ or 'incompetent', but I call you by name, Debbie. You are My daughter. I knit you together in your mother's womb and I knew ALL of you days before you were born. You are more than a conqueror. You are the head and not the tail. You are My masterpiece. I will never leave you or abandon you. There is nothing that can separate you from My love, nothing. Nothing Debbie. There is nothing you can do once or over and over and over again that will separate Me from you. Trust Me, Debbie, I love you with an everlasting love.”
And then, I wept. I closed my eyes and let my body and spirit rest in Him.
He is all I need…and in Him I am full.
And so are you.
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