When you feel like you’re not enough
It’s too easy to begin to feel like you’re not enough in a culture that encourages perfection. When we begin to pick ourselves apart and overanalyze the different parts of our lives, we are drawn to feeling like we aren’t enough. Maybe you say to yourself “I’m not smart enough” because you made a C on a math test. Maybe you say “I’m not strong enough” when everyone else is able to throw back tucks at cheer practice and you just got your back handspring. Maybe it’s “I’m not perfect enough” when the boy you like doesn’t have the same feelings back. The options for filling in the blank, “I’m not _____ enough”, are endless. How do we fight the lies that spiral in our heads and tell us that we aren’t enough? Listen to what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9,
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 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.”
Paul reminds us that God’s grace is enough for us and His power can overcome even the biggest battles we face. When we pause the spiral that floods our heads and remember the work that God has done and is doing, we can replace the doubts of our abilities with remembering the goodness that God is continuing to bring about.
How do we do this? We proclaim His word to ourselves! I remember one day in class before I had a presentation, I was so anxious and my doubts began to swirl. The only thing I could think to do was to begin to write down the lyrics to “Jireh” By: Elevation Worship and Maverick City Music, specifically the part that says, “If He dresses the lilies with beauty and splendor how much more will He clothe you? If He watches over every sparrow how much more does He love you?”. Lyrics we see from scripture in Matthew 6! Y’all I had to boast in the Lord because His power is made perfect in my weakness!!! Yes, I love to yap- if you know me, you know this- but I AM TERRIBLE about making presentations. I was trapped in a moment of feeling like I wasn’t smart enough to make a presentation, but I took a moment to remind myself of what God’s word says and that gave me the confidence to get up and do the thing!
My challenge to you:
Look at your own life and discover where you feel like you’re not enough, then look to God’s word and find scripture to combat the spiral that comes from those feelings.
Don’t know where to start? Look at Psalm 139, Psalm 28:7, and 2 Timothy 1:7!
Pray that you will be able to hide God’s word in your heart so when you are having spiraled thoughts of not being enough, the Holy Spirit will gently remind you of the word of God.
love you big, Laurel