“I’m not capable.”

That’s a lie that everyone faces at one point or another. Whether it’s a new skill you’re trying to learn, or a task that needs to be completed that you just don’t have confidence in completing. Maybe it’s something more relational, like making friends or talking to the opposite gender. Whatever it is, we all face it eventually.

I just can’t do it. I’m not capable. I’m not good enough yet.

I faced this lie last week, and God showed me an interesting perspective shift via my mentor…

Our Capable Expectations

When you pursue the dreams and desires and mission God has on your life, eventually, you’ll hit a wall. You’ll come to a place where you really can’t do it. Where you aren’t capable. The sneaky thing about the enemy is that he tells half-truths. Half-truths have lies in them, but they’re tricky…because they’re also somewhat true.

The lie: I’m not capable

The truth? I’m not capable…yet.

Do you see the difference? I didn’t at first. Not until I was having a conversation with my mentor.

I’ve hit a wall with marketing my books (do me a solid and check them out). I’ve been posting a lot on social media about them, which is an improvement to where I was, but every other aspect I’ve neglected because—you guessed it—I didn’t feel capable.

I didn’t feel like I could call local bookstores and ask to have my book on consignment. I didn’t feel like I’d be very good at public speaking, talking to homeschool groups, or teaching writing classes or about faith. I didn’t feel like I could do book events all by myself. I just didn’t feel capable.

Breaking Through The Wall

So, I’m sitting in Brad’s office, talking to him about this. I tell him, lay it all out, exactly how I see it. Where I’m not good enough, where I just can’t do it.

“I’m going to freeze, and do a horrible job at this,” I told him.

Brad nodded. “You might,” he said.

Gee, wow, thanks. Way to encourage a gal.

But then he leaned forward. “You will do it mediocre at first. But then you’ll get better at it. Doing it poorly is still better than doing nothing at all.”

Big, smack-the-forehead while saying ‘Duh‘ moment for me.

Here’s the truth:

You probably aren’t going to do it perfectly. In fact, I can say you 100% won’t do it perfectly.

But being capable doesn’t mean being perfect at it. It just means doing it.

You can do that thing you’re scared of doing—why? Because you have God, and he actually has something pretty important to say about your weakness.

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

That’s pretty cool, isn’t it?

God’s Expectation

I love that God doesn’t expect us to be strong, or perfect, or to do things 100% exactly the way they’re supposed to be. Funny how we have that expectation for ourselves, right? I wonder where that comes from (the enemy. It comes from the enemy.)

You won’t do things perfectly…but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t even try. It’s better to try, and do it poorly, then learn the skills and get better, than to not try at all.

So, what do you do? The thing. Do the thing. That big, scary thing you don’t feel like you can do.

Have that hard conversation. Call that company. Do your taxes. Whatever it is that you’re avoiding because you feel like you just can’t do it…guess what? You might not do it perfectly, but I’m pretty sure you can still do it.

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Do you want to grow your skills? Guess what—we have a writing conference for that!

This is a great opportunity!

Do you ever wonder why you feel like a failure? Want to know how to handle AI in writing? Maybe you’re curious about starting your writing journey. Regardless, this weekend is jam-packed with solid teaching, awesome advice, and best yet–other Christian authors. Take that next step. Your story is important and deserves to be told. 🙂