Jesus Is Enough for All of the Challenges We Face

During my first pastorate, I frequently felt inadequate. I had an uneasy feeling that some future demand would be more than I could handle. It would prove my incompetence and torpedo my pastoral Titanic to the sea floor.

I had reason for concern. I had never done a funeral, wedding, baptism, hospital visitation, counseling, or any other normal pastoral duty. Attending seminary taught me how to preach and teach, but not much about day-to-day ministry.

Moreover, I wasn’t a people person in a profession that demanded much contact with people. Spending time with people drains me emotionally.

That feeling of inadequacy persisted into my second pastorate. Life as a pastor was never predictable. An emergency phone call often turned my world upside down in an eye blink.

I felt inadequate when I took a staff position at the Eastern Regional Conference of the Churches of God. Even though I was sure that was where God wanted me to serve.

Several months before I was hired, I had the closest thing to a vision I have ever experienced. It was revealed that the staff position was the next step in my ministry.

Going into my interview for the job, I had one hundred percent assurance I would be hired, but I never mentioned the vision to those who interviewed me.

As time passed and my devotional life improved, my trust in God’s adequacy grew. I began to walk into new situations, not knowing what I would say or do but trusting that God would supply whatever grace I needed to be a blessing to others. He did. Repeatedly.

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT). I was experiencing that power as I stepped out in faith.

I am learning that His grace is all I need. It is all any of us need. I pray 2 Corinthians 9:8 KJV at least once daily and usually more.

Here is what I pray: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you [physically, emotionally, spiritually, psychologically, mentally, relationally, financially, and vocationally]; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”

When I am feeling the least bit anxious, that is my prayer. It helps me feel sufficient for the challenge as nothing else can. Jesus is enough for the challenge. Give it a try! See additional free spiritual growth resources for Christians.

God has empowered me to write His Power for Your Weakness—260 Steps Toward Spiritual Strength. It’s a free, evangelistic, devotional, and discipleship e-book. Pastors have used it in Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia to lead 6,090 people to Christ and teach the basics of Christianity to 15,150 people. I invite you to explore and use it in your setting. 

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