Totally & Completely Adequate

I read Jesus Calling as I was getting ready this morning (actually listened...app on iTunes!) & it led me to Ephesians 3:17-19.  After reading that, I just had to read the whole chapter.  I've read it a million times, but it was just different today.

When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles...assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.  As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.  As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.  God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles & prophets.  And this is God's plan: Both Gentiles & Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God's children.  Both are part of the same body, & both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.  By God's grace & mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading the Good News.  Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.  I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.  God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers & authorities in the heavenly places.  This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Because of Christ & our faith in Him, we can now come boldly & confidently into God's presence.  So please don't lost heart because of my trials here.  I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.When I think of all this, I fall to my knees & pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven & on earth.  I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love & keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, & how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.  Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life & power that comes from God.  Now all GLORY to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  GLORY to him in the church & in Christ Jesus through all generations forever & ever!  Amen.  (Ephesians 3:1-21)

Last night when I was lying in bed & couldn't sleep [time changes make me antsy], I just started feeling really inadequate.  I had just been looking at some jobs online...I found some great ones but it's so scary to think that I could end up anywhere.  Not only that, but sometimes I just let that fear get to me...what if I can't do it?  What if I get there & hate it?  What if I can't find a job?  What if I'm not good enough?  What if I feel dumb?

Then this morning I read this.  Paul felt completely inadequate, but knew that his God was totally adequate, totally big enough to do, through him, all that He said He would do.

God has a job out there for me.  He's chosen me for something.  And no, I'm not adequate.  I'm not good enough.  I'm not smart enough.  But HE is all of those things & even more, & through Him, I can do it.