Inadequate
Stories
THE WONDER OF WORDS: BOOK 2
ONE-HUNDRED MORE WORDS AND PHRASES SHAPING HOW CHRISTIANS THINK AND LIVE
Two cows were grazing alongside I-95 in Bucks County when a tank truck of milk, on its way to the distributor, happened to pass by. On the side of the truck in big red letters was a sign which read: "This milk is pasteurized, homogenized, standardized, and has Vitamin A added." One cow turned to the other and remarked, "That makes you feel sort of inadequate, doesn't it?"
If you're facing some trouble right now and saying, "I can't stand it," or you're facing your work and saying, "I can't do it," then you know this feeling of inadequacy. The word inadequate comes from three Latin words: "in" (not); "ad" (to); and "aequus" (equal). When you feel inadequate, you feel you're not equal to the problems you face or the work you have to do. Low, negative religion puts people down and increases the sense of inadequacy. High, positive religion helps people to feel adequate to meet life by reminding them of God's secret strategy: "God chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important." (1 Corinthians 1:28)
God does four things to make us feel adequate to face life. He embraces us, welcoming us when we feel most unworthy. God encourages us when we feel most incompetent by reminding us of his unlikely instruments: Moses felt inadequate because he stuttered; Gideon felt unqualified because he was poor and insignificant; Jeremiah felt unfit because he was young; Peter felt unworthy because he had failed. God employs us because he loves to accomplish mighty things by humble means. Great consequences can flow from small causes. Finally, God empowers us by awakening us to the possibilities he has put into us. All great living begins with sense of the possible. Jesus showed us the way when he said: "Everything is possible for the person who has faith." (Mark 9:23)
If you're facing some trouble right now and saying, "I can't stand it," or you're facing your work and saying, "I can't do it," then you know this feeling of inadequacy. The word inadequate comes from three Latin words: "in" (not); "ad" (to); and "aequus" (equal). When you feel inadequate, you feel you're not equal to the problems you face or the work you have to do. Low, negative religion puts people down and increases the sense of inadequacy. High, positive religion helps people to feel adequate to meet life by reminding them of God's secret strategy: "God chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important." (1 Corinthians 1:28)
God does four things to make us feel adequate to face life. He embraces us, welcoming us when we feel most unworthy. God encourages us when we feel most incompetent by reminding us of his unlikely instruments: Moses felt inadequate because he stuttered; Gideon felt unqualified because he was poor and insignificant; Jeremiah felt unfit because he was young; Peter felt unworthy because he had failed. God employs us because he loves to accomplish mighty things by humble means. Great consequences can flow from small causes. Finally, God empowers us by awakening us to the possibilities he has put into us. All great living begins with sense of the possible. Jesus showed us the way when he said: "Everything is possible for the person who has faith." (Mark 9:23)
