This semester I’ve found myself speaking with students and Howies who are sincere and earnest in their desire to love, serve and share Jesus with people at uni. Too often though doubts and concerns arise regarding our skill set to do God’s work on campus. These concerns may be due to seeing others who may seem more experienced or accomplished or just feeling our own inadequacy (or both?).

Normally inadequacy is undesirable, and understandably as it isn’t particularly pleasant! However if we dwell on that feeling for a moment it might reorient us to a more helpful perspective, a perspective which actually might help more in ministry in the long run.

When we are reminded of our own inadequacy, it ought to remind us of our true identity as a beloved child of God. We are only in Christ by His grace and not by any merit or competency of our own. Our own inadequacy reminds us of our place before God, both of how precious we are, and more importantly how mighty God is. Our own inadequacy points to the adequacy of Christ to fulfil his purposes. It keeps us from preaching ourselves, and points us to the gospel to preach Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as servants for his sake (2 Corinthians 4:5).

As I have the privilege of meeting with many women on campus and feel both my own inadequacy and hear their concerns, I am reminded of this truth and how powerful it can be for gospel ministry when we embrace rather than deny our inadequacy. It forces us to depend on God’s strength and grace rather than putting confidence in our own abilities apart from God. I feel there is more to be taught to others as we model this dependence on Christ in the face of our own inadequacy rather than suppressing that feeling. What might it look like for you to embrace your inadequacy for the benefit of those around you?