Do You Feel Inadequate?

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I love going to churches and cathedrals around the world. I’m particularly attracted to the stained glass windows. One thing I’ve noticed is that designers must have thought the Disciples were truly saints. You can usually pick them out of a group of people because they  have halos around their heads.

A lot of people think that way too. Surely the the Disciples didn’t have the same struggles I have. That's impossible! Jesus hand picked them. Even a cursory reading of Scripture dispels that myth. They were not superhuman. They had all the inadequacies you and I struggle with. 

Here are just a few the Disciples’ struggles:

Lack of understanding. How many times did Jesus tell them He must suffer and die? They just didn’t get it [see Luke 18.31-34]. What about the future kingdom? They misunderstood that too. Jesus, however, kept teaching them the truth over and over until they got it.

Lack of humility. On different occasions, the Disciples tried to figure out which among them would have a greater roll in the Kingdom of God [ex. Mark 9.33-37]. Jesus showed them real greatness through His humble service. He even went so far as to wash their dirty feet. 

Lack of faith. “Oh ye of little faith!” Jesus said that to them often. Jesus radically changed their faith by rising from the dead just as He said He would do.

Lack of commitment. Judas betrayed Christ. Peter denied Him. All the Disciples deserted Jesus just hours before the cross. There’s no doubt they struggled with commitment, but Jesus prayed for them [see John 17.15; Luke 22.31-32].  

Lack of spiritual power. Jesus overcame that weakness when He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to them. Filled with the Spirit’s power, they turned the world upside-down.

Don’t get down on yourself because of your inadequacies. Jesus still transforms them today, just as He did with the Disciples — by His Word, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. Seeing how Jesus dealt with the Disciples gives us hope that He can use us too. He can overcome any inadequacy you might have.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4.13