Am I Too Small for God to Use? The Truth About Inadequacy.

Being an author is weird. Sometimes you plan out exactly what you want to say, whether or not you stick to that plan. Other times, things slip in that you never thought would. This has happened to me more than once. 

Recently, the Lord revealed a theme in my books that I never noticed before: Inadequacy. 

We’ve all felt it. Life is hard, and we are often faced with tasks we don’t feel big enough to handle. This is often especially true when it comes to our God-given callings. That’s where the theme in my books centers. 

The warriors are called by the Creator to fulfill an ancient prophecy. But who are the warriors? They’re troubled, short-tempered, violent, hermits. In a word—inadequate. 

Ava is a young woman with a troubled past, and mental health issues, including delayed learning and anxiety. But the Creator chose her to be a prophet? She struggles to accept that. 

Shayne is similar, with a past he’d rather forget and has attempted to physically run away from. He’s made so many mistakes and feels like a coward. But the Creator called him to be one of the prophesied warriors. 

The other warriors have struggles that fall in line with the theme, but I can’t mention them because of spoilers. The theme of inadequacy flows through most, if not all, of the series. 

The point? We’re all inadequate. But no one is too small for God to use them. This is the lesson the characters in the books must learn, and it’s something we all need to consider. 

We all have a purpose, a calling, a reason for why God made us the way he did. The Bible says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV) 

But what if that work is too big? What if we’re too small? Too weak? Unworthy? 

Often, that’s exactly the place God calls us—to the place where we can’t manage on our own. But why? 

One reason may be to keep us humble and focussed on him. When we’re able to do things on our own, we tend to focus on ourselves. But when we’re in over our heads, we look up and seek God. 

It also gives God more glory. When it’s obvious we can’t do something, but do it anyway, it shows the world what is possible when God is in it. 

Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)

God uses the small and weak, because they are the ones who will show his power. We can’t claim the glory because we know we didn’t do it. We can do nothing in ourselves, but “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). 

So if you find yourself facing a huge calling, remember that you aren’t supposed to tackle it alone. God is with you. If he called you to it, he will equip you and help you do it. 

That’s what he did for me. God called me to write. I seek to honor him through stories that reflect the truth, bring him glory, and encourage readers. But you want to know a secret? I can’t spell. 

I’ve always had trouble spelling. Even simple words would throw me. I couldn’t spell the word “really” until I was sixteen. But now I’m a published author. How? The answer is simple: God. 

I prayed about the problem. If I was going to write, I needed to be able to spell. Over the years, my spelling has gotten better. While I’m sure I’ll never win a spelling bee, I can write with more confidence… though I still confuse the spell checker at times. Did you know that if a word is too badly misspelled, a spell checker can’t correct it because it doesn’t know what it is? Yeah, that’s happened to me a number of times. But editing has become easier since I’ve learned to spell. 

There were other mountains to climb in this journey to publication—time, funds, writer’s block. But God moved them all. 

That’s what God does. He calls the unqualified, then makes us able. No matter what obstacles we face, God can get us around them. 

When facing a giant, remember—giants fall. (1 Samuel 18) 

When faced with an impenetrable wall, remember—walls crumble. (Joshua 6) 

When there seems to be an ocean between you and where God has called you, remember—seas part. (Exodus 14) 

No matter where God has called you, he will make a way. Even if you can’t see it now. Even if you feel like nothing. 

I think Shayne’s thoughts in Prophecy Awakens sum up these feelings pretty well: 

He wasn’t worthy of such a task and honor. He was only a tiny speck of sand on the ocean’s shore—nothing. 

Why would the Creator choose him? 

But if God, our true Creator, has called us, he will go with us. He sees more in us than we see in ourselves, and he knows what he can do with us. All he asks us to do is to trust him and obey. He’ll handle the rest. 

Inadequate? Maybe we are. But, maybe, that’s not such a bad thing.