A Prayer for When You Feel Insufficient
By Jennifer Slattery
"Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone." - Deuteronomy 34:7
If you’re familiar with the Old Testament, you may know a bit about Moses, the Egyptian prince turned fugitive God called to liberate His people from 400 years of slavery and oppression. Through him, God wanted to change more than their physical location and situation. He wanted to bring them soul-deep freedom by drawing them into an intimate relationship with Himself, to bless them through that relationship by settling them in the agriculturally rich Promised Land, and then to use that relationship to reveal His nature, heart, and truth to the world.
The people had witnessed numerous awe-inspiring, miraculous displays of God’s power, provision, protection, and presence, including a series of plagues, the parting of a body of water, and a fire that blazed above the people each night. Yet, despite all this, the former slaves refused to entrust their lives and destinies to their loving Creator. Because of this, instead of entering the land of rest as God had planned, they spent 40 years wandering through the wilderness. This means that Moses, who was already 80 by the time he received his divine assignment, led them for another four decades! Well past his prime—according to human logic. But God doesn’t operate according to our understanding, nor, as Moses’ story illustrates, is He limited by our limitations. To phrase it another way, there is nothing God cannot do through a person whose heart is fully devoted to and dependent on Him.
Has God called you to something that feels daunting? Do your current circumstances feel overwhelming and leave you doubting your ability to thrive? Maybe your mind replays all the reasons you can’t overcome whatever challenges stand before you. But the same God that watched over, guided, and empowered Moses for every step of his journey watches over, guides, and empowers you as well.
Let’s Pray:
Holy Father, You are a loving, faithful, all-powerful, unchanging God. You are constantly working on our behalf, leading us to Your very best, toward a thriving, Spirit-filled life of ever-increasing intimacy with You, dependence upon You, and supernatural effectiveness through You. While we know from John 15 that we cannot do anything of eternal significance apart from You, we believe Jesus’ promise that we can do all things through our connection with You. Keep us close and increase our desire for You. Remove everything within us that hinders our growth, freedom, calling, and our relationship with You.
When we feel frightened and overwhelmed, remind us of all the ways You led Moses, as he led your people, for forty long years through the wilderness. Remind us of how You made sure their clothes never wore out, their feet never swelled, and they remained well-nourished. You did those things, not because they deserved Your care, and certainly not because they earned it, but because of Your perfect love and faithfulness. Just as You care for us, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of who You are. Help us to trust You more, and may You use our limitations to reveal Your power and strength.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray, amen.
Related Resource: Finding Strength through the Holy Spirit with Max Lucado
Did you know that the author of this devotional, Jennifer Slattery, is also a podcast host? Listen to her FREE podcast, Faith Over Fear! You can find all of our episodes on LifeAudio.com. Listen to Jennifer's interview with Max Lucado - just click the play button below:
Photo Template Credit: Canva/Live Called
Jennifer Slattery is a writer and speaker who co-hosts the Faith Over Fear podcast and, along with a team of 6, the Your Daily Bible Verse podcast. She’s addressed women’s groups, Bible studies, and taught at writers conferences across the nation. She’s the author of Building a Family and numerous other titles and maintains a devotional blog at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLou
She’s passionate about helping people experience Christ’s freedom in all areas of their lives. Visit her online to learn more about her speaking or to book her for your next women’s event, and sign up for her free quarterly newsletter HERE and make sure to connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and GodTube.
Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Monday, 13 November 2023.
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