I had a phone call this week with a sweetheart of a military wife who was dealing with blog fright. She is one of several military wives who have joined me in writing for Wives of Faith, but it worries her that she’s “just a reservist wife.” What if the active military wives don’t think she has anything to say?

Because she’s been so worried, she’s stopped and started several different posts. But as I told her, all she needs to do and focus on is one thing: WRITE! :) Military wives are military wives. While yes, there are differences and different issues each group of wives faces, we also have a lot in common. The same emotions, the same type of worries, the same struggles and overwhelming feelings.

I also feel inadequate much of the time. And, I’ve had the same thought my friend did. “I’m just a reservist wife.” But one thing God has taught me over the years is he isn’t looking for perfectionism – he’s looking for availability.

Too many of us refuse to try something unless we know we can do it perfectly. That’s why a lot of our Wives of Faith groups flounder I’m sad to say. You wouldn’t believe how many wives I hear from who have the desire in their hearts to start a group but can’t find the confidence within to do it. They let those seeds of doubt grow and foster and choke out any of the hope or the calling God may have on their lives to do something, to make a difference for themselves and for other military wives.

But it’s the groups who “just do it”, the leaders who make themselves available and don’t try to be perfect or live up to whatever image they’ve tagged themselves with who see a successful group come alive, with meaningful relationships formed and prayers going up for each other.

When we allow feelings of inadequacy to rob us of the potential God has placed inside of us, we miss out on the blessings God wants to give us.

So maybe you don’t feel like you’re the greatest writer. Or perhaps you’re scared to death at the thought of speaking in front of other people. Maybe the idea of having to meet other people and say something interesting freaks you out. Maybe you even feel inadequate at praying out loud.

DON’T. Don’t let thoughts of inadequacy or more accurately, fears of inadequacy take something incredible away from you!

Read what Romans 8:15 says:

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

If you know God, you are his child. And as his child, you have no reason to fear, no reason to worry. Yet I think both of those things are great at keeping us from what God asks us to do.

Think about this:

1. When we give in to inadequacy, we give up the chance to do something great.

2. When we give in to inadequacy, we give away the privilege to someone else (for if God’s asked you to do it and you don’t, believe me, he will find someone else who will).

3. When we give in to inadequacy, we lose the opportunity to grow.

4. When we give in to inadequacy, we miss out on knowing what might have happened.

5. When we give in to inadequacy, we avoid risk but we also lose the reward.

Be brave, be strong. Lean into God and ask him to give you the strength you need to do something you’ve never done before. Realize that you are a vessel he can use to help someone else.

Then be that vessel. Show that strength. Be available.

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