You Are NOT Enough.

That’s harsh, I know. But it needs to be said. And as much as it needs to be said, it needs to be explained… that’s where I come in.

For many years I have read, been told, and have said the ever popular phrase “You are enough.” You are enough for your husband. You are enough for your kids. You are enough for your employer. This phrase has always been comforting for me, especially on my less than desirable days. But I came across something a couple of months ago that revealed the lie within that simple statement. And I have vowed to forever remember that I am NOT enough — not on my own.

No, I don’t think you’re a horrible parent because your patience ran thin. I don’t believe you’re an awful spouse because your actions failed to always show love. I don’t believe your employer deserves a refreshed employee. What I do believe, however, is that we are NOT enough WITHOUT GOD.

We were hand-picked, carefully molded, created in His image, and designed to be enough…ALL WITH HIS HELP. If we fail to create a solid foundation for our life around His truth and love, then we will never be enough for ourselves, for those around us, and for fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives. By thinking we are enough all on our own, we are trying to convince ourselves that we don’t need God. And we all know the lie detector test determined that is a LIE.

“But he 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

HIS power, made perfect, in our weakness. Christ in us and through us, bringing completion and strength. His light shining through the cracks of our brokenness.

When we find ourselves in times of inadequacy, instead of saying “I am enough”, try saying “with God’s love, guidance, grace, and mercy, I WILL BE enough.”

Learn to make God your package deal, not your part-time friend. Let’s all be honest with ourselves – we KNOW we are NOT enough. We know our babies don’t deserve our stress, our spouses don’t deserve our insecurities, and our workplace doesn’t deserve our exhaustion. But we are human in nature, enduring the constant invitation from sin. Nothing this side of heaven can fill us and empower us in the way only God can.

God has never been interested in you being enough on your own. Moses didn’t think he was good enough. People didn’t think David was strong enough. When you find yourself in the “not enough” mindset, just know that God loves to show up in the “not enough” to show us that HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.