Unless you’re Einstein, you’ve probably felt stupid at one time or another—and I’m guessing there may have been times when even he felt inept. Keep reading for reminders for the next time you feel stupid.
I’ve felt stupid for as long as I can remember. This overwhelming insecurity that I’m dumb—and everyone else knows it—has haunted me for years. Have you ever felt that way?
When I was about five years old, I remember getting so overwhelmed one day that I just cried. Like an avalanche that builds as it crashes down the mountain, my feelings of inadequacy suffocated me. My parents were concerned, of course, and wanted to know what was wrong, but I didn’t understand it myself at the time.
The pressure did ease with the release of those tears―even if I couldn’t explain it to anyone—but I’ve still had a lifetime of similar feelings.
As I am learning, and I know I’ve said a lot lately, there aren’t too many things we experience that others don’t struggle with, too. We just learn to hide those struggles so no one else can use them against us.
Or confirm them.
But keeping our struggles inside only gives them power over us, and trying to appear perfect never helped anyone else. It’s in our weaknesses sometimes that we’re able to help others—if we can stop hiding them.
Truths for When You Feel Stupid
#1 – There are different areas of intelligence.
None of us is good at everything. Not even Einstein. Yes, he had the math and sciences down, but he struggled with interpersonal skills.
For the longest time I thought excelling at math and science was the only indicator of intelligence. I thought my struggle with them proved my lack.
But now I realize intelligence is so much more. Mechanical, verbal and languages, spatial, musical, memory, and even street smarts are all some of the valuable areas of intelligence.
By that logic, even Einstein would be called stupid. Lacking in one area doesn’t make you stupid any more than missing a leg makes you less human.
#2 – You’re probably smarter than you think.
Yeah, yeah. You’re probably thinking that’s just a pat answer—everyone likes to think it. But really.
Unless you’re one of those people who thinks everything they do is awesome, you’re probably looking at your weaker areas and comparing them to someone else’s strong ones.
Think about this, though: They’re probably looking at your strong ones and comparing them to their weak ones.
#3 – You can’t rely on your own intelligence.
Wouldn’t it be great to be smarter? I think about the things I could do. And then inevitably I ask myself these questions:
- What would I do if I were more intelligent?
- Would I actually feel any more intelligent?
- Would I rely on my own intelligence?
I have a feeling I would rely on my own intelligence rather than remembering that God is the giver of everything I have, rather than trusting God’s plan for me, or rather than acknowledging God’s existence.
#4 – Your intelligence doesn’t define you.
I like to talk about identity here at HISsparrowBlog in case you haven’t guessed that already. There are so many things that affect our identity and perception of it. Intelligence is at the top of that list.
It’s normal to evaluate where we stack up compared to our peers, but it’s not productive. Either you’ll feel superior or inferior, and neither one is the truth.
The truth is God calls us all kinds of names that have nothing to do with our intelligence and everything to do with our place as His children. Check out this post for some of the names we have in Christ.
#5 – Intelligence is a gift from God.
I love the paradoxes inherent in the Christian faith—all of the mind-blowing ways two things can be true at once.
Like the way God calls us to Himself yet preserves our free will. And like the way His sovereign plan is and will be accomplished, yet He asks us to pray. Or how the first will be last and the last will be first—the weak will be strong…
And how God gives us talents and gifts, yet we account for how we use them.
Everything we have was given to us.
#6 – Every gift not used to glorify the Giver is wasted.
Our gifts should be used to glorify God, and the best way to do that is by loving those around us. Intelligence is no different.
Do you ever feel stupid? What helps you? Let me know in the comments below.
check out these posts for more reading…
- Am I Really Just Stupid? from Lisa Notes
- 10 Must-See Verses for the One Who Feels Ugly from HISsparrowBlog
- Identity: The One Whom Jesus Loves from HISsparrowBlog
- 3 Simple Truths for When You Feel Like a Failure from HISsparrowBlog
Love this! “Trying to appear perfect never helped anyone else.” I don’t think feeling stupid has been my struggle, but I sure have wanted to be perfect! And I fail miserably. But think about it: doesn’t encouragement from someone who admits they messed up and then share what they learned seem valuable to us? I love learning from others mistakes!
I also agree with you that we are not defined by our intelligence but by what God says about us. We are His masterpiece in the making!
Seeing the struggles of others is so valuable. I like the way you put that. And, you know…sometimes it’s easier to see identify problems in ourselves when we see them in others.
This part so good: “there aren’t too many things we experience that others don’t struggle with, too. We just learn to hide those struggles so no one else can use them against us. Or confirm them. But keeping our struggles inside only gives them power over us, and trying to appear perfect never helped anyone else. It’s in our weaknesses sometimes that we’re able to help others—if we can stop hiding them. ” As children we start hiding our struggles and hopefully one day we are vulnerable enough to share them and help others. Great points here. Like what would I do with my greater intelligence? Probably the same thing I am doing now. We all have smarts in different areas. I’ve known smart people who had no common sense. Or smart people who can not follow simple directions to build a bird house. This is why we need all of us and need to help one another. And yes, God never looks at us through the eyes we are looking at our self.
That’s a comfort, isn’t it, Theresa? God doesn’t look at us the way we do. I feel like that dynamic is a little like names. I don’t know many people who like the names their parents chose for them. However, their parents put a lot of thought into it to show their love with the name they chose. God lovingly gives us gifts and talents and then we see them as not enough. Ay-ay-ya.
Oh, yes!!! I loved your #6. All of our gifts should be used not for our own glory, but for God’s. I am sure most people can identify with this post. We have all felt inadequate at one time or another. We are all imperfect. Thank you for this good encouragement.
I am reminded continually that it all comes back to how it can help someone else. Just as Jesus said, we don’t light a candle and hide it under a basket. Thanks for stopping in today!
When I saw your title, I knew I’d have to read this! I’ve started a blog post myself this week about feeling stupid. I’ll finish it up and link yours as the featured post at the Grace & Truth linkup on Friday at my blog. As an Enneagram 5, I get too wrapped up in my knowledge to avoid feeling stupid. It can become an idol, which is never good. And never achievable anyway! Like you said, we’re all smart about different things. God likes when we need each other. I sure needed this. Thanks! 🙂
Thanks so much for the feature! I love it when we (bloggers) write on the same topics. Must be a Holy Spirit thing as they say. 😉 Why do we fall into the trap of thinking we must know everything, because otherwise we must be stupid?
Thank you for this. I really needed to hear this today. You were talking to me today. So wonderfully spoken. Blessings.
I am so glad you were encouraged today!
So inspiring to read this today. I’ve always seemed to feel inadequate in one area or another but it is so comforting to know that God sees us differently. He looks at our hearts and not whether or not we “measure up”. I enjoy your writings very much and the Word of God that comes along with them.
I appreciate your encouragement more than I have the words to express, Judy. So glad you were encouraged!
Been there…Done that…Forgiven!!
Well said, Barb! 😉
Such a vulnerable post, Ashley. For all the years I’ve read your blog, I’ve never considered you stupid, not in any way. I’m so glad you’re sharing your wisdom with us here. Pinned and tweeted.
That’s sweet of you to say, Sarah. Thank you for stopping in with a bit of encouragement today!
It is so paralyzing to feel inadequate. This was inspiring and encouraging to read. Every point is well taken but it was #1 I needed to read – there are different areas of intelligence. It’s so freeing to realize we are all unique and different and that is regarding intelligence as well.
Yes, as Lisa mentioned in her comment, I always fall back on thinking that I must know everything or I’m stupid. But God created us for relationship. If each of us knew everything, we wouldn’t need each other. And we couldn’t reach others when they needed it. Thank you for stopping in today!
I can relate! I have memories stored up in my head and heart from childhood that I allowed to define me as stupid well into my adult years. Even though the Lord has healed me so much from this, I still need to be vigilent in making sure I fill my mind with truth like the ones you’ve given here. I’ve been so blessed by the idea that there are different kinds of intelligences. The Lord equips us just as He wishes to enable us for the works he’s created us for! Thanks for sharing!
Yes, it’s so important for us to fill our minds with truth. I love how you put that. I think many times about Paul talking about the body of Christ: Each of us is part of the body of Christ, which requires different abilities and strengths. So glad we’re not all one part. We’d get nowhere. 😉