God replied back to him, “you are the strongest in this world little rat.”
The rat was in awe and complexed and asked, “but how can I be?”
This started an interesting conversation between them and God said, “You are stronger than the night.” Again the little rat was perplexed and scratched his little furry head and asked, “Can you explain this for me please?”
God spoke, “because when the sun rises the night disappears and this makes you stronger than the sun.” “But how can I be” questioned the rat.
God softly spoke, “because when it is cloudy the sun disappears and you are stronger than the cloud.” Being confused the rat said, “I do not understand what you are trying to say.”
God responded, “Because when the wind blows the clouds move and disappear, and you are stronger than the wind.” Again, the little rat was puzzled and did not understand the logic behind the words of his Creator and responded, “But how?”
God answered, “Because when the wind blows, it cannot move the tower that is behind you, but you can.” The little rat snickered and thought if he was weak how can he move a tower that is 1,000 times his size and questioned God, “ tell me more about how will this make me strong.”
God smiled in His answer to the little rat and said, “My little friend, nor the sun, the wind, the clouds or the night can make this tower disappear. However, you, little rat you can; by simply digging in each stone, you can crack them and make the tower collapse.”
Does anyone occasionally get down on themselves? Beating yourself up (not literally of course), but thinking all these negative thoughts. You know there are some positive attributes, but can't help to focus on the negative ones. You ask yourself, “Why do I do that, it makes me so miserable?” What is wrong with me? Why do I feel this way?
Sometimes you just can figure out what is happening, and you could not seem to get away from it or make it better. You feel so weak and poor. Maybe, you felt in adequate because you were not able to show up for others in the way you wanted too. Or you could not seem to get a grip on everything vying for your attention in your life.
In most cases, the root of the problem is that our feelings of inadequacy are based on us measuring ourselves against the wrong standard or the conventions of the past. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Are you not a child of God?
Have you tried changing your feelings? However, to discover that there are completely new places of inadequacy, even in those places you felt secure, and it was natural and familiar to you? Finally, you cry out to God in desperation, asking Him to overcome your failings and weaknesses and asking Him for assistance. Feel like the rat in being perplexed in the answers that God provides to you?
Don’t let past failures or fear of the future render you useless. God knows exactly why He chooses you to carry out His purpose. All He asks of you is to trust Him. Feeling inadequate is not a weakness. If you turn your attention and focus on God instead of on yourself, then it can actually be a strength. I know when I am feeling inadequate; I know that I have to depend on the Him. There is no other option, other than failure. When I am feeling adequate and strong in my abilities, I am tempted to draw from my own strength and not from the His. I personally don’t like feeling inadequate, but that is when I see Him working in my life in a special way. It is a good place to be, even though it may not feel that way at the time.
“To ourselves, we are great. Yet most of us live life without making a stand, contented to blend into the background of self-rendering nothingness, and when looking back feel contented at our mediocre accomplishments. Nobody remembers the person who conformed out of inadequacy. Nobody notices a patch of grass, they see the tree” ~Wayne Burrow
Remember, sometimes it is good to be a rat. Much can be accomplished in the small things rather than the big. Therefore, as you read this, please go with an understanding that you are adequate. You are more than a conquer (Romans 8:37). There is power inside you (Philippians 2:13). God is sufficient for you in every situation you may find yourself in, that will never change. If God leads you to do something, He will always enable you to accomplish it. There is no better place to be than in the center of God’s will, doing what He has asked you to do.Do not believe in the self-talk lies that you are not good enough, or you're not pretty enough, or you feel inadequate and cannot do anything right. The world can distract you with smoke and mirrors. You will compare what you see when you quickly glance at the images which reflect back at you. These are mere shadows of life which have no real meaning.
Beneath the surface of it all lays a foundation, there is living in purpose, and as we sail through life, do not avoid storms and rough waters, just let it pass and just sail. Remember, calm seas never make skillful sailors. Inadequacy is only the exercise equipment of building up our skills in accomplishing more than we ever have thought about! God's plan is often a front for men's plans and a cover for inadequacy, ignorance, and evil
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20) It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. (Psalms 18:32)
