Have you ever felt inadequate?

Do you ever question why God put you in a place where others seem to be doing better than you?  Whether it’s true or not, you can be left thinking, “what is God thinking? Why would he do this?

God has been highlighting 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 to me a lot lately, so let’s read it together:

12Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.

We can’t tell anyone they don’t belong; we can’t disqualify ourselves either.  If we are where God placed us, there is a reason.  We need to work together for the goal of glorifying God.  The work is not for ourselves or even for our own pleasure or sense of accomplishment; it is for his glory alone.  Wouldn’t you want to do your best and work in unity with others so that you do well for His glory?

If all this is true, why do we still feel inadequate and without purpose? What do you do if others seem faster, smarter, and better than you? The one thing God told me was that there are two hands on your arms and two eyes on you face, and while that means one can compare itself to the other, all of them exist for the Body, not themselves.

If you’ve felt this way before, let us know in the comments how you confronted that lie; what scripture encouraged you?