Inadequacy

INADEQUACY

I believe that a major problem with single adults today is the feeling of inadequacy. Inadequacy is a major cross that many choose to bear. These feelings have been placed in us at an early age. The source of these feelings can be contributed to a number of things: parents, siblings, friends, teachers, etc. It usually comes from those who we care about most. The people whose opinion we count on the most. Unfortunately, those people that are closest to us are the ones who can inflict the most damage. Sometimes, the damage is intentional and other times it is unintentional. It does not matter why it happened. We have to remember one thing: MAN WILL LET US DOWN! "It is equally natural for us to see the man who helps us without seeing Christ behind him. But we must not remain babies. We must go on to recognise the real Giver. It is madness not to. Because, if we do not, we shall be relying on human beings. And that is going to let us down. The best of them will make mistakes; all of them will die." C. S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

I believe the problem we face is we carry those wrongs IN us. The words, that cut us and made us feel inadequate, are the words we carry inside our heart. They were embedded in our hearts due to the closeness of the transgressor. Even after we are saved, we carry this luggage around. Eventually, the pain and words are embraced. The problem with this embrace is that it keeps us from growth in our relationship with God and others. If our relatives and friends ( those we can actually see and interact with) can treat us this way, how about God? Surely, we can come to believe in Him, but the train stops there. We are afraid to let go of these inadequacies. We are afraid if we open up to God or new friends then we will acquire more pain. NEWS FLASH! We DO NOT have to let our past define us. Jesus defines us. Jesus must be allowed to do a work in us. In this battle, surrender is the only option! We must drop the gate down and allow Jesus to have his way in our hearts. "A new heart also will I give ou, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgements, and do them." Ezekiel 36:26-27

Jesus wants to purge those old hurts out of your heart and return you to the land of the living. They hold you back from having and feeling the complete love of Jesus. Once these strongholds are banished, we can bask in the radian light of our Savior.

In the en, it is a case of mistaken identity. We have held onto the wrong word. We should NEVER hold onto something painful and keep it in our hearts! "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23 These painful words will jade our view of relationships! We must have the right and truthful WORD written upon our heart. "He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live." Proverbs 4:4 Jesus said that not only would we have life by Him, but life to the fullest. "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 Thanks to Jesus, give over the old words, receive the new WORD, and all our relationships will change. We will experience a much deeper, fuller, and meaningful relationship with Jesus, God, and all those friends and family members all around!

kenny