Dharius Daniels - Inadequacy is KILLING Your Assignment

I am suggesting that the enemy is not just at work orchestrating our attitudes of arrogance; I’m suggesting the enemy is also at work in orchestrating attitudes of inadequacy. The same devil that infects people with arrogance is the same devil that infects people with inadequacy. When the enemy cannot change the way you think about God, his next step is to try to change the way you think about yourself. Listen, I grew up in a church context that was focused, and borderline obsessed, with addressing and arresting arrogance. I understand the importance of that; I am not saying that it is incorrect. I am simply suggesting that it is not the only area where the enemy is in operation. I am suggesting that the enemy is not just at work orchestrating our attitudes of arrogance; I’m suggesting the enemy is also at work in orchestrating attitudes of inadequacy. The same devil that infects people with arrogance is the same devil that infects people with inadequacy. And listen to me: inadequacy has assassinated just as many assignments as arrogance. As a matter of fact, this is the issue God has to overcome quite often when He is calling some of the most significant and impactful Biblical characters in Scripture. When He calls Moses, one of the first things He has to do is talk Moses out of his inadequacy. God calls Moses, and Moses' response due to his inadequacy is, «I’m a background dude.» He says, «I’m slow of speech.» Come on! He calls Gideon, and Gideon’s response due to inadequacy is, «I’m from the weakest tribe, and I’m the weakest in the tribe.» Am I making sense? Victory! He calls Jeremiah, and Jeremiah’s response due to inadequacy is, «I’m too young, and I’m too inexperienced.» They didn’t think they had what they needed because they were comparing what they had to what others possessed, not realizing that you have been, watch this, placed on this planet on purpose. You are not just the result of some relational accident; you are not the consequence of some cosmic coincidence. You have been strategically and intentionally placed on the planet at this point in human history for such a time as this. You’ve been built by design; you’ve been wired for a work; you’ve been crafted with your purpose in mind. Therefore, you are not operating from a place of deficit, because God had destiny in mind when He designed you. What He’s trying to do is introduce you to a version of you that you haven’t met yet, because you don’t know that version of you is on the inside of you. I want you to know there’s a stronger you on the inside of you. I want you to know there’s a wiser you on the inside of you. I want you to know there’s a more focused you on the inside of you. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of God introducing people to versions of themselves they didn’t even know existed. Tricksters, connivers, heel-catchers like Jacob experience quantum leaps and become princes with God, introduced to a version of himself he didn’t know existed. People like Gideon, who are fearful, timid, and trepidatious, threshing wheat in a place where they are supposed to be pressing wine, all of a sudden become mighty men of valor, leading 300 men into war against the Midianites. It’s a quantum leap! Temperamental, unpredictable, impulsive people like Peter all of a sudden become a rock; they’re steady and sturdy, preaching the gospel faithfully on the day of Pentecost. I’m telling you, if He can do it for Gideon, if He can do it for Moses, if He can do it for Peter, if He can do it for Jacob, if He can do it for Abraham, He can do it for you! I want to know who’s next! Yes, and there are very few passages, I believe, that reveal this reality like David’s narrative here in 1 Samuel. We pick this up in chapter 17, but contextually, this story begins in chapter 16 with God making a statement to a civil and spiritual leader named Samuel. He asks Samuel this question in 1 Samuel chapter 16, verse 1. It says this: the Lord said to Samuel, «Are y’all ready for this?» I don’t know if I’m convinced; are y’all ready for this? The Lord says to Samuel, «How long will you mourn over what I have rejected?» Here it is: He asks him how long he will keep nurturing an emotional attachment to something He’s done with. See, Saul represents an individual, but Saul also represents an era. He represents an era of leadership within the story of Israel. God asks Samuel this question: «How long are you going to keep nurturing an emotional attachment to something I am done with? I’m not saying it was bad, but I’m done with it. I’m not saying it didn’t add value, but I’m done with it. I’m not saying I didn’t use it, but I’m done with it.» It’s like God is saying to Samuel, «If you’re going to follow Me, you’re going to have to master what Dr. Henry Cloud calls necessary endings. That entrances into new seasons must be preceded by exits out of old ones. I will never be able to say hello to something new if I’m not willing to say goodbye to something old.» Dr. Cloud says, according to Solomon, that all endings are painful. Some endings are necessary.