Do I Have What It Takes?

by Brad Spangler

“Do I have what it takes?” is a question that I find myself asking very often. To be honest, I think I have always struggled with the fear of “not being good enough.” Even as a child, I always felt kind of average or below average. Over the years, this feeling has morphed into questions like, ““Do I have what it takes to be a good husband? Do I have what it takes to be a good dad? Or do I have what it takes to finish my Christian race well?””

As I sit here and write this, I’m struck with the feeling that I am not the only one who struggles with this question. To some degree, I think that all of us struggle with fear or some limiting belief. Limiting beliefs are like a bad song with a catchy tune. Because of what others have said about us, past experiences, or even lies from the enemy of our soul; we have certain narratives that we believe about ourselves. Unfortunately these catchy tunes or false narratives have the potential to get stuck in our heads, and if this type of thinking is not recognized, it has the power to hold us back in life.

In the book of Numbers chapter thirteen, God tells Moses to, “Go and take possession of the land.” Then Moses decides to check things out by sending twelve spies into the land of Canaan so they can bring back a report. In Numbers 13:33 NKJV, we have a brief synopsis of what ten spies came back and reported…

“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants), and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

We can see clearly from this verse that the spies had a limiting belief. They saw themselves as grasshoppers compared to the other people living in Canaan. The Bible called it an evil report full of unbelief, which was the catalyst for keeping that generation of Israelites out of the promised land. The ironic part of this story, is that several years later as Israel gets ready to sack Jericho, we actually find out that the people in this city were afraid of Israel. So what do we do about these limiting beliefs? How do we replace these false narratives with the truth? Below are three questions you can ask yourself to begin this process. 

1. What is the fear or limiting belief that I am struggling with?

2. Where did it come from?

3. What does God say?

What fear is holding you back? In my own life, I have to remember that without Jesus and the transforming power of His Spirit, I do not have what it takes. The Apostle Paul famously wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT, “Each time He (Jesus) said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.” When I come to the end of myself God’s power begins to work in my life. When I trust in the grace of God and the people He has placed around me, then I truly have what it takes.

I challenge you to find scripture and begin to meditate on what God has said about you. Replace that annoying catchy tune with the powerful truth of God’s Word. Only then will you be able to enter into and enjoy the promised land.

Similar Posts