Embracing Inadequacy: God’s Pathway to Intimacy (Part 1)

Inadequate: not enough or good enough : INSUFFICIENT

also : not capable

When some of us look in the mirror we don’t like what we see. The reflection staring back at us is a reminder that we are not what we hoped we would be, and deep within remains undesirable and unchangeable things. Still others look in the mirror and their first inclination screams, “you’re the man!”. But regardless of our own self-perception, the Biblical narrative is we were all created needy and weak. That weakness, however, does not end at adulthood or any stage of our lives. It’s a persistent reality that began before our first breath and carries beyond our last. Most of us want to look in the mirror and see a confident and capable person that has what it takes for all walks of life. And beneath the facades many of us portray, lurks something masterfully camouflaged that few others know about us…we are inadequate. Such an uncomfortable word! Although inadequacy is a binding thread of human nature, it is also one of the most intellectually resistant concepts. It’s what many of us refuse to accept, inundating ourselves with positive self-talk, motivational speakers, hard work, higher education, pretense, lies, appearances, and a myriad of other self-protective attempts to mask what is true. Inadequacy is a form of weakness and weakness we resist.

After years of private practice one counselor observed, “we’re all insecure little boys on the inside no matter how macho or capable we present ourselves on the outside”. The world encourages us to find ourselves through the journey of self-confidence. Yet the ones telling us how we should live are often the ones depressed behind curtains while living photoshopped lives. God encourages us down a different path, a narrower road. One that by losing yourself you will find what you’re actually desiring the most. The journey is guaranteed to be uncomfortable, exposure always is, but if we want to finally end the madness of this incessant denial it will require us to be honest. Jesus says, "come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden…and you will find rest for your souls” (Matt.11:28-29b). The sobering beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that we are all equally inadequate and need a Savior. Instead of concealing our inadequacy, God calls us to embrace it. For those that do, Jesus promises to meet them in a relationally intimate way. The first step towards deeper intimacy is admitting we wear masks…