The word inferiority (as well as the complex) has haunted me my whole life. Recently I lamented this with a small group of successful friends. “I just don’t feel like I’ve accomplished much and I’m deeply discouraged,” I said.
Both shook their heads. Both reminded me of what has happened in my life the past decade: the books, the influence, the speaking, the travel. All true. But I still struggle with shaking the dust of inferiority from my soul.
For instance, whenever I’m around someone I perceive as highly successful, I coddle that inferiority. I honestly believe doctors are better than me. Pilots too. Big name authors as well. In their greatness, I feel small. Not that I want to be them or am not thankful for the gifts God has given me, but that in light of them, I want to shrink away.
Yet God tells me not to throw away the confidence I have in Jesus Christ. “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded” (Hebrews 10:25 NIV). He reminds me of my worth, not because of my abilities or strengths, but because of His superiority and value. My battle with inferiority is a God issue, a faith issue. Because compared to everyone else, we are all on the same level, all in desperate need of a savoir, all incapable without His capability.
Inferiority is deeply entwined with shame, and shame is a terrible weed to uproot from our souls. Yet if we make a choice to look away from our own perceived inferiority and the shame that plagues us, we will see Christ’s sufficiency covering us, shielding us even from our own shame.
I want to walk that way today. No longer inferior, but resting in the superiority of Jesus. How about you?
