Defeating the Lie You Are Not Enough

We can be our own worst critics. We get hung up on the parts of ourselves that are "less than." The parts we wish were different. We measure ourselves on a figurative scale but the scale is rigged, so we keep falling short. I want to interrupt the noise and tell you to give yourself more grace. If you ever feel like you are not enough, this "pep talk" is for you, friend.

We know that comparison takes away our joy, and yet we keep comparing ourselves to others. We tell our loved ones not to care about what others think or say, yet we run around worried someone will judge our shortcomings. We know we are human, yet we expect ourselves to maximize every minute of every day, disappointed when we don’t.

Being real with you, I often worry I am not enough, or that I am not doing enough. It’s a lie I’ve carried for years.

I’m always trying to move everything forward at the same time, what about you? I’ll reason, sure, I rocked homeschooling today, but the house looks trashed. I spent a lot of quality time with the kids today, but I didn’t provide home cooked, nutritious food. I unintentionally said the wrong thing at the wrong time, and now I can’t seem to drop it and move forward.

This unhealthy cycle can be dismantled today. The way you defeat a lie is with truth from a credible source. You are human, not a programmed machine. You breathe, grow, rest, rise, and begin again. You are constantly learning and evolving. You were created to love and be loved. We must forgive ourselves for our shortcomings, as easily as we forgive others. We must acknowledge the light in ourselves that others point out, which we often disregard or brush aside as sweet flattery.

The creator of the universe looked at all of his creation and desired to make you. He desires to have a relationship with you and loves you unconditionally. You are worthy of love. You are seen and heard, even when you feel alone, because he will never leave you.

Hagar said one of my favorite names of God in the Bible - El Roi which means, “God who sees me.” Do you know what God told her to name her baby when he encountered her in her pain and distress? Ishmael, which means “God hears.” God sees you and hears you when you call. So go ahead, lay every burden down like he has invited you to do: “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

You weren’t meant to carry it all on your own. You weren’t meant to carry it. God, who is all-sufficient, covers us. As you begin each day, surrender the constant striving and the fear of not measuring up knowing that he goes before you and is preparing your path. Your loved ones are under his care. Your health is under his care. Your responsibilities are under his care and perfect will. The unknown you face is not unknown to him. He is placing provision for you along the way as you faithfully take each step forward. Lean into him as a place of refuge, your safe place.

He is your anchor in the storms of life. The Apostle Peter could walk on a lake in the midst of a storm as long as kept his eyes fixed on Jesus. It is when Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and focused on the raging winds that he began to feel fear and started to sink. Jesus reached for Peter’s hand and pulled him up.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:28-31)

Don’t we sometimes do that? We focus on the storm raging around us and are overcome with fear, losing sight of our faith. Trust and see that he who promised is faithful to see you through, by his power and strength, not yours.

Lastly, when I feel weak or “less than,” I remember that his power is made perfect in my weakness:
“But he [God] 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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

His power is made perfect in my weakness. I will never be enough on my own, but I know this to be true, his grace is enough for me. Jesus is enough. For when I am weak, then I am strong.