Is Feeling Inadequate Something to Heal?

I was talking to a client this week who confessed that she felt inadequate.

As we probed the issue, it became clear this was a case of “imposter syndrome.” (Which nearly everyone I know has felt at some time or another.) She was being asked to do something for which she felt inadequate, like she would be faking it. But, is feeling inadequate really a bad thing?

Because my client is committed to following God, we explored what Scripture might say about “inadequacy.” It just so happened that that morning, I had read in my 2-year daily Bible in Exodus about God calling Moses to lead His people out of bondage in Egypt. We went over the story.

Moses balked at this call. He hemmed and hawed. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God’s answer: “I will be with you.”

Moses: “And what shall I say to the elders if they don’t believe me. Who shall I tell them sent me?”

God: “Tell them I AM WHO I AM. I AM has sent me to you.”

Then God laid out the whole plan: more about who He is, what Moses should do and say, what will happen.

Moses had more “what if?” questions. And excuses.

“I never could speak well, God.”

God’s answer: “Who gave human beings their mouths?”

Finally Moses blurted out, “Please send someone else.”

God was angry at Moses’ lack of trust, but He graciously promised He would have Moses’ brother Aaron speak for him.

Finally, armed with God’s words of promise and assurance, God’s plan clearly laid out, and the staff that would validate his mission, Moses obeys. The rest, of course, is history. (See Exodus 3-4.)

Paul the Apostle had some kind of affliction for which he implored God three times to remove. God did not. Instead, He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.”

Paul learned a secret: “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.  That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Why is he strong when he is weak? Because then he is totally dependent on God. The more dependent he is, the more he gives God room to manifest His power.

Feeling inadequate drives us to depend on God. And that is exactly where He always wants us to be—all the time. 

So is it something to heal? Only if you’re sure He wants you to do something, and your sense of inadequacy is getting in the way–essentially, it’s a lie you’re believing when the truth is, “In myself I’m inadequate, but God has called me to this, and I trust He will enable me.” Then you can heal all the times feeling inadequate led you to fear and not trust.

My client continues to pray for clear guidance, because sometimes God may be saying, “You feel inadequate, but I am calling you to this and I will equip you for it,” as He did with Moses and Paul.

But also, sometimes Satan, and/or our own pride, tempts us to think we can handle something that God does not intend for us. So there are no clear cut, cookie-cutter answers.

As always, it comes down to hearing from God, and feeling that sense of His leading in your spirit. This is where practicing comes in: the more you learn to hear God’s voice, to get to know it, and the more you obey His leading, the more commonplace hearing from him will be for you.

If you would like to grow into such a connection, or if you have something you really want to hear from God about, I invite you to attend an Immanuel Connection call. Find out more here.