Being capable and actually doing something are two different things.

I listened to someone’s plans and wanted to say,

“I know you can. But I don’t know if you will.”

I didn’t actually say it. (I’m usually thankful when I engage my filter.) I was fairly confident it wouldn’t be received in the way I meant it. I had full confidence of the person’s ability. I didn’t want to ebb away what confidence she had. I wanted to build her up. At the same time, I didn’t want to give her false confidence. Just because she’s capable of doing well doesn’t mean she’ll apply herself, approach challenges humbly, learn from disappointments and failures, and persevere. She can but only time will tell if she will.

Isn’t that the truth with all of us?

God equips us with so much. The gifts He gives us are abundantly sufficient to accomplish what He intends for us. But what accomplishments He plans for us might not be our perfect idea of accomplishments. What He knows is sufficient can seem inadequate when we face challenges. His gifts might seem to be misfits for us. We prefer to do things our own way, with our own sense of comfort or adventure, our own definitions of our successes, failures, and progress, and our own timelines.

If we’re going to actually do the thing God purposes for us, we’re going to have to trust that He has made us capable. More accurately, He is in the process of making us capable. We have to take the step of faith beyond believing we are capable into action steps into His purpose and plan. It is only then that we find true, sufficient satisfaction.