Three Ways to Overcome Feelings of Inadequacy

We all know that feeling. The one where you look in the mirror and don’t like what you see. You think to yourself, “I’m not good enough.” You feel like you’re not living up to your potential.

I used to have a lot of days like that, and I would wonder how anyone could ever love me.

How about you?

Sometimes I would even feel like giving up altogether.

If this sounds familiar, don’t worry – you’re not alone. In fact, many Christian women struggle with feelings of inadequacy. But there is hope!  

“…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

Confusion, fear, and feelings of inadequacy are not from God. On the contrary, our God instills clarity, faith, and identity, so the opposite comes from the enemy. Satan loves to derail us with any means possible, and it is up to us to stop him.

So if you want to overcome feelings of inadequacy and become the confident woman God created you to be, keep reading. This post will give you steps on how to get started.

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Three Steps Towards Freedom

1. Acknowledge your feelings, don’t try to ignore them or push them down. When you feel inadequate, it’s important to remind yourself that everyone feels that way at some point. No one is perfect, and everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Remind yourself that you are capable and you can do anything through Christ (Philippians 4:13).

2. Don’t try to compare yourself to others. One of the most common sources of inadequacy is the way in which we compare ourselves to others. We may find that we come up short in terms of our accomplishments, looks, wealth, popularity, etc. We may feel that we are not good enough for our job, our family, or even the calling that God has placed on our lives.

However, God made you a unique human being, and He has a purpose for your life. Therefore, it is essential to come to the mindset that no one can steal the purpose God has for you, and God doesn’t make mistakes, so you are enough. You are unique, and the only way any of us miss the calling God has placed on our lives is when we refuse to step up in faith.

3. Identify the source of your feelings. Once you’ve acknowledged your feelings, try to identify what’s causing them. Are you comparing yourself to others? Feeling like you can’t do something? Trying to do too much? Once you know what’s causing your feelings of inadequacy, you can start working on addressing them. You can’t change something you can’t identify.

Finally, be patient. It takes time to overcome feelings of inadequacy, but you will eventually be able to move on from these negative thoughts with time, prayer, and patience. Remember that you are not alone in this, and there are people who care about you and want to help you. Talk to someone about your feelings, whether it’s a friend, family member, pastor, or therapist. And most importantly, be kind to yourself. Give yourself time and space to work through these feelings. There’s no quick fix for overcoming feelings of inadequacy, but when you trust that God is flawless, you will realize you are more than enough!

Thanks for reading!

P.S. Feelings of inadequacy can result from unrecognized shame or guilt in our lives. I have created 10 questions to help identify the hidden traps Satan uses to snare us.

This is a Free resource that you can get here.