When you feel inadequate (1) - All The Word for Today Daily Devotionals for 2025

‘Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.’ 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NASB20

The fear of inadequacy is a state of mind in which you think your best is not good enough. Usually, it originated in childhood when our parents, teachers, and others we considered important, failed to appreciate and affirm us or compared us negatively to someone else. You will see it from Moses, who felt inadequate to be the spokesman and liberator for the Israelites. No statistics can measure the number of abandoned dreams due to this paralysing emotion. To rid yourself of it, you must learn to embrace these two truths:

1) Apart from God you are inadequate.

2) Infused with God’s strength, you are adequate to any challenge He calls you to face. Paul writes: ‘Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.’ (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NASB20). Many of the heroes in the Bible struggled with the fear of inadequacy, so you’re in good company!

Moses told God, ‘I can’t go and talk to Pharaoh, send someone else’ (see Exodus 3:11; 4:13). The real story of these Bible heroes is that they overcame their fear and said yes to God. They stepped out in faith and said in essence, ‘Lord, I am depending on you for my success.’ Our human ego likes to look good and claim the credit. But God puts us into a position of forced dependence so that the credit for our success goes to Him.

SoulFood: 2 Sam 1:1 – 3:21 Luke 6:37-49 Ps 109:1-15 Pro 17:27-28