This week a few of my digital art students are struggling with our current assignment which is to paint a landscape scene. It seems the stumbling block for them is getting overwhelmed by the numerous elements comprising the scene, each with different textures, colors, and levels of detail. To help them work around that I have them focus on just one element at a time and paint it with minimal detail. Later we will make a second pass to add more details after they already feel a sense of accomplishment. I hope they begin to see that they don’t have to already be a skilled painter in order to effectively express themselves with digital art. They can do it if they follow instructions, trust the process, and keep trying.
Feeling unworthy can also impact your relationship with God and your service for God. But I have good news. Your aptitude is not what qualifies you to know God or be used by him to accomplish great things. It’s your attitude, your heart attitude, that unlocks the blessing of fellowship with God and working alongside him. Your abilities, intelligences, status, experience, wealth, or personality are not what God is looking for. He is looking for people who will trust and obey him in humble, faithful, teachable reliance.
God Does the Work
The reason God doesn’t need “qualified” people is because God is already fully sufficient. He can do anything and everything. However, out of love he has created people and invites us to joyfully join with him in his divine work. Left to ourselves that would not be possible, because we have inherited a deadly tendency to serve ourselves instead of God. Fortunately, Jesus, can rescue you from death row. He is God the Son who became a man, innocently died to pay for your wrongdoing, and rose again to break the chains sin and death have over you. Anyone who trusts him can be reconciled with God to live abundantly and freely as a part of his royal family now and forever.
In Jesus, God does for you what we cannot do for yourself. He saves all who turn to him and restores their brokenness. Jesus is the author and perfecter of faith. So your eternal wellbeing is not a matter of trying harder, but a matter of trusting Jesus who has already accomplished what is required to save you.
Despite your past or any sense of unworthiness, no one is beyond God’s love and saving reach, just as Jesus taught his disciples, “With man this [salvation] is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).
Rest in God’s Work
What that means is that in Jesus you have the power to be saved, to be whole again, to really live, and to make a difference in the lives of those around you. The apostle Paul encouraged believers about rejoicing specifically in time of need. He wrote, “I can do all this through him [Jesus] who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Paul repeated this truth in his letter to believers in Corinth regarding an affliction, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9). If you feel helpless because you are tired, poor, weary, confused, anxious, hurt, afraid, or burdened for others, bring your need to God and he will answer. Jesus taught, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Align with God
God’s promises, salvation, and truth—his reality become real and impactful for you when you enter into them by faith (Hebrews 11:1). When Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world he proclaimed, “It is finished.” It didn’t mean all work was done, for much more is yet to happen. What he meant was he accomplished his purpose to enable the saving of rebellious people in the world to the glory of God. Everyone is not automatically saved. A person becomes saved by entering into a relationship with the savior, Jesus. Because of his death and resurrection, salvation is now available for anyone who will trust him. The victory is won, although not all the battles are over. Each person is responsible for how they respond to Jesus. When you accept Jesus as your savior and submit to him as your Lord, the fullness of his salvation blessings become a reality for you even now in this fallen world. They also extend beyond this present evil age into the eternal righteous reign of Jesus when he returns to consummate his kingdom, reward believers, judge unbelievers, and vanquish evil.
You can’t become righteous on our own, but you can receive Christ’s righteousness for you (2 Corinthians 5:21). God graciously meets you where you are and lovingly develops you into who you should be. That makes all the difference. Trust him and submit to his Spirit who is given to believers to counsel, comfort, train and empower them (John 14:26, 15:26; 16:13-14; Ephesians 5:15-18). Jesus described your role as being like a branch which abides in him for he is the vine. From Jesus you draw all you need to thrive and bear fruit. Apart from him you can do nothing of eternal significance (John 15:1-8).
Conclusion
When you feel powerless, helpless, or hopeless turn to God. Rest in him. Align your will to his by confessing any sin and doing the next right thing he shows you. The scripture I mentioned earlier from Philippians 4:13 stating “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” could be reworded, God can do all things through those who let him. So rely on God. Make it your greatest pleasure to please him. Find your assurance, peace, refreshment, and complete fulfillment in him. By faith find your life in Jesus and help others do the same.