It happens to all of us at some time or another. God calls us to a task too big for us, or asks us to walk through something really, really hard. We’re left feeling incapable. Inadequate. Sometimes hurt, and totally overwhelmed. When we see no possible way we can do this, it’s a life-changing help to remember that God is able.

Times When We Feel Like We Can’t

“I just can’t do this anymore.”

I hear it occasionally and have said it myself. My mother’s nurturing words come back to the inner child in me,

“Never say you can’t!”

But really, there are times when the task (or calling) is hard.

God’s Transforming Power

Sometimes we feel like Much Afraid in Hannah Hurnard’s classic book, Hind’s Feet on High Places. Her shepherd called her to follow Him up the mountain, even with her debilitating limp.

“The Shepherd laughed too. “I love doing preposterous things,” he replied. “Why, I don’t know anything more exhilarating and delightful than turning weakness into strength, and fear into faith, and that which has been marred into perfection. If there is one thing more than another which I should enjoy doing at this moment it is turning a jellyfish into a mountain goat. That is my special work,” he added with the light of a great joy in his face. “Transforming things —to take Much-Afraid, for instance, and to transform her into—“ He broke off and then went on laughingly. “Well, we shall see later on what she finds herself transformed into.”*

Through Jesus’ transforming power, our inadequacies and weaknesses can be turned into strengths.

After all, God told Moses to stop worrying about his speech and just go lead His people. God would do what Moses on his own could not.

But Moses said to the LORD, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the LORD said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Exodus 4:10-12

 

Gideon told God that he was the least of the least, so to speak, yet God told him to go save Israel from the Midianites.

Now the angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.” And Gideon said to him, “Please, my lord, if the LORD is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us, saying, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the LORD has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.” And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?” And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” And the LORD said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” Judges 6:11-16

So Why Don’t We Feel Able?

We know these stories of God equipping who He calls, so why don’t we feel able? Why do we still struggle with inadequacies?

Sometimes our head knowledge doesn’t translate to our hearts.

Here are a few questions that I ask myself when I feel like I can’t do what He’s asking me to do. Identifying why I feel the way I do helps me know how best to address the root of the problem.

• Am I struggling with a lack of faith? Do I believe that God has the power to equip me to handle what He’s asking of me? Do I believe in His ability?  
• Am I listening to my flesh instead of listening to God? Is He trying to get through to me, but I’m wallowing in my feelings and shutting Him out? Perhaps I’m comparing myself with someone I think could do better or remembering past failures.
• Is Satan tempting me to place my faith in something/someone else? Do I feel like God can’t handle this (or equip me to handle it), but someone else can? (He does send people to help us, but it’s not because he can’t. Instead, it’s an extension of His ability.)
• Am I being distracted from focusing on Jesus (like Peter and the wind and waves. See Matthew 14:22-33) Have I given in to criticism? Have I lost hope? Is someone giving advice that goes against God or His Word?

What can we do?

So what do we do when we feel incapable of living up to the things God is asking of us?

The simplified answer is to pray, read the truth in His Word, and stop looking at the wind and waves around us. When the task or situation before us looks like an insurmountable peak, we need to focus on the loving Shepherd leading the way.

Of course, all of that is easier said than done. But with practice we can become better at it.

We can become women who are like the alabaster jar of Mark 14:3-9. It was broken, but Christ called the result beautiful. Though we may feel broken and incapable, Christ sees our faith, obedience, and praise as a beautiful offering.

What Does God’s Word Say?

Though God often calls us to do things we can’t do on our own, He goes with us and makes us able. God will take our obedience and do His beautiful works through it. Just like in the biblical examples above, if He calls us, His ability will surpass our lack. 

Here are some verses to help us when we feel incapable:

The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8

 

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Phil 1:16

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Phil 4:6-9

 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 1 Peter 5:10

 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

 

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, Ephesians 3:20

 

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Cor 9:8

Closing Thoughts

Though we will have trials that sometimes (or often) leave us feeling incapable, Jesus’ brother, James, tells us the reward for remaining steadfast.

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Have you ever felt so incapable that you didn’t (or almost didn’t) follow God’s leading?

How might focusing on God’s ability help you when you struggle with feelings of inadequacy?

Here is one last reminder for you: You are able, because He is able in you!

Blessings,

Ali

*Quote from “Hinds’ Feet on High Places.” Hinds’ Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard, Thorndike Press, 2004.