When you feel inadequate

It was a day of exposing my inadequacies. Ever have one of those?

Saturday began with a photography class. I love taking photos, but I admit: I’m scared of the M on my camera (for “Manual” in case you don’t use it either).So when my awesomely gifted friend offered a class, I jumped on it. Saturday morning she taught about aperture and exposure and shutter speed. And I learned I have tons more to learn. That’s actually very exciting to me and fun, but still...

I felt pretty inadequate.

After class, I drove up the mountain for a team-building activity with fellow teammates traveling to El Salvador this summer. Larry from Challenge Point was leading us in zany scenarios involving balls, boards, and ropes. I knew I was in trouble from the get-go.I was totally out of my comfort zone. My greatest contribution was to step aside and follow directions from the other teammates. (And once to climb on Jeff’s shoulders to retrieve a ball of asteroids that would explode on the radioactive planet we weren’t allowed to step foot on.)

Yeah, not exactly my thing. [Pictures here of “Killer Pigs of El Salvador”]
So even though Larry made it great fun and I totally enjoyed hanging out with the crew...

I felt pretty inadequate.

When that was over, we spent Saturday evening watching Jenna’s ballet recital on Ruth and Naomi.

[And no, of course I didn’t take these photos! Ashley’s mom did. Thanks, Amy!]

Could I name the dance steps? Duplicate the movements? Even *think* about wearing one of those costumes? A big NO. I’m totally out of my league with the ballet world. So even though I was super proud of the beautiful ballerinas...

I felt pretty inadequate.

But...but...but...

When I felt inadequate with photography,
     God gave me Savannah to explain things.

When I felt inadequate with spatial problem-solving,
     God put smart men in my path who freely gave me directions. ;-)

When I felt inadequate with no ability to perform ballet moves,
     God let me delight in watching those who can perform it beautifully.

So when you feel inadequate, don’t sweat it.

You’re supposed to be inadequate.
Nobody can do it all or know it all or be it all.

God wants us dependent. On each other. On Him.

If we could do it all ourselves, we’d be a proud people, never giving glory to the Lord.

And if no one ever needed our help, how would we learn to serve?

God made us as individual parts of a body (Romans 12:4-5). Not a complete unit by ourselves. He knows that together is better than alone. Look at the Trinity—three in one. It’s one way we’re designed in their image after their likeness (Genesis 1:26).

As we grow, we’re to grow together, not grow apart. So when one feels inadequate, another fills the gap. God puts us with others in the exact ways that are best (1 Corinthians 12:18).

Teamwork is His design.
And his designs are all good.
All grace.

Will you count graces with me?

# 218....220
~ Skilled photographers willing to teach newbies
~ The M setting on my camera; we’re warming up to each other
~ Multiple moments worth capturing to share with others

# 221....223
~ Different skills spread out among different people
~ The ability to follow directions
~ Feeling safe in good hands and kind hearts# 224....226
~ The beauty of ballet
~ The grace of color and music and movement
~ Doting relatives on a deserving young lady# 227....229
~ The feeling and actuality of inadequacy
~ A God who knows the skills we need
~ And the skills we don’t

* * *

How do you make peace with your inadequacies?

My 1000 Gifts count