It is hard to let other people down. I feel bad when I haven’t able to deliver what was expected of me. Even if the expectations were unreasonable. What to do then? How can we shake off the feeling of failure? And how to deal with inadequacy?

I’ve learned that I do fail or let other people down on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, I try to do my best but very often it is not enough. I forget things, I mess up things. Or I have not understood something the right way. In the end, I have not delivered what the other people wanted. And I feel bad and inadequate.

Thankfully, I have also learned to deal with inadequacy and my failures. I know someone who can help me and even fix the things I’ve messed up. Yes. God. His grace covers not only my sins but also my failures and inadequacy. For real.

But He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. (2 Cor.12:9, AMP, emphasis added)

How to deal with inadequacy

What to do then? How to shake off the feeling of failure? And how to deal with inadequacy? My best advice for any problem is to turn to God. He is more than our problems, always. But here are three practical steps on how to deal with inadequacy and not being enough:

1. Pray. Give your failures and feelings of inadequacy to God. Tell him how you’ve let these people down, how you could not be all they needed you to be (or whatever the situation is). Say you’re sorry and ask for God’s grace to cover what you messed up or were not able to do.
2. Let go. Your mess is in God’s hands now. So let it go. Let the feelings go. Bask in God’s presence and let God’s amazing grace wash you and fill you with His peace. We can’t but God can.
3. Praise. Thank God that you are not a savior, Jesus is. Praise him for being always more than enough, being always available, regardless of the situation.

I can attest to this. This works. There is no other way we can deal with failures and inadequacy than turning to God. But he receives us with love and surrounds us and the situation with his grace. There’s nothing quite like it. Don’t live without experiencing God’s healing power. That’s the only way I know how to deal with inadequacy and other challenges of life. But God’s grace is more than enough, always.

Gracious God,
We come to you with our failures and our feelings of inadequacy.
You see the situation.
Help, heal and interfere as you see fit.
Cover our failures and inadequacies with your grace.
Exchange our inadequacies to your peace.
Thank you for being more than enough, always.
Be praised for your loving-kindness now and forevermore!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How do you deal with inadequacy? Does it work?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you turn to God no matter what the situation is! He will come through for you!

Photo by Christian Erfurt on Unsplash.