Inferiority Complex

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God."

--  Mark 10:27

Was he in the stands last week at the Super Bowl? 

He's that anonymous guy with the John 3:16 sign who seems to attend just about every televised sporting event. And why does he keep waving it at the camera? John 3:16 is arguably the most important message ever written:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

It's a simple sentence that's really the Bible's message in a nutshell. It's the Gospel, which translated means good news. And good news it is! Whether you're rich or poor, famous or forgotten, it means there's no more reason to fear death when you put your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. All of your past, present and future failures won't be held against you. And because of Jesus' death and resurrection, all believers can look forward to an eternity of unimaginable joy and celebration with their Creator.

That sounds great for after we've passed away. But what about while we're still here on Earth? What does God have to tell us Average Joes (and Josephines) about getting through the challenges and frustrations of everyday life? Well, here's some more good news: God is for the little guy (and gal) who says "Yes" to Him and His plans--even when we feel inadequate, inferior and unnoticed. This is a consistent principle throughout both the Old and New Testaments.

Let's look at some examples. There was Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers and unjustly imprisoned in Egypt. But God made him that powerful nation's governor and used him to save Israel from famine. Mighty King David started out as an obscure shepherd boy. But God used him and his slingshot to slay Goliath--the fearsome 8-foot-tall leader of Israel's enemy, the Philistines. Moses was a poor speaker who stuttered, yet God chose him to face Pharaoh, bring the Israelites out of slavery and lead them to the Promised Land. And let's not forget the Apostle Peter. He was a lowly fisherman who actually disowned Jesus three times when things got tough. Yet God still picked him to lead the growing band of Christ-followers in Jerusalem and help spread the faith across the known world.

Today's Christ-followers are like the heroes of the Bible in many ways. We're imperfect human beings who can fail to hear God's call--or even decide to avoid or refuse it. We sometimes feel discouraged and abandoned when we don't feel God's presence. And our self-image is often one of inadequacy. But the truth is that God knows the plans He has for us. He sees us for what we can become, not for who we are at the moment.