I am not patient enough. I am not smart enough. I am not strong enough.
The enough trap. This trap is an ugly, painful cycle that can easily ensnare us. In a world that keeps telling us there is always more, nicer, bigger, better, it can be hard to feel like we are enough. We are constantly comparing and never satisfied.
No matter how hard we try, how much we work, or how much we have, we can become victim to a vicious cycle of striving and never feeling like enough. I have my days that no matter how much I have tried and how much I have done, I still feel inadequate and defeated.
When we are so hard on ourselves and think we cannot measure up to what we think God expects of us, it can be hard to accept the fact that He loves us just the way we are.
He sees what we cannot see in ourselves. He sees the beauty He created, when we feel flawed. He sees the strength He created, when we feel cracked.
We may have a sink full of dishes and a dryer full of laundry waiting to be folded, but we are still loved. We may have overreacted and not been very patient with our loved ones, but we are still loved. When we see how great and together our friends seem, we must remember the fact is that God does not love them any more than He loves us.
In His sight we are all profoundly lovable. Faults and all. Dirty dishes and all.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” {Ephesians 2:10}
Be confident knowing that every part of what makes us unique both inside and out, is perfect and treasured. Plaster that message on your heart. We are all treasures made by God. Don’t let the lie of never enough attack you. Don’t let insecurities speak louder than His truth. You know the truth.
His face is turned to us and shines on us just the way we are.
We are all part of His great works. We are all precious enough to be known and named.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” {Isaiah 43:1}
We are all treasured by God. His love does not fail. Trusting this truth is our source of peace. It is what pulls us from that enough trap. Rest in the truth. Let it penetrate into your heart. You are so loved. You are enough. Joyfully and passionately live it out every day.
Lord, help us to see ourselves the way You see us.
by Jennifer, StudioJRU
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Jennifer,
For many years I have been slowly getting off the treadmill of striving because it is just that…a path that literally takes you nowhere. I am learning that when Jesus said, “It is finished.” It’s done…He did it…there’s nothing else I can add to the equation and thinking I can do so is nothing more than pride masquerading as piousness. Your post is a great reminder to keep me off the treadmill…thanks!
Bev
Bev
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Love the image of getting off the treadmill of striving because it gets you nowhere. Exactly! Thanks so much for sharing, Bev!
Jas says
Jennifer, it is a comfort of sorts to know others fall for the “I’m not enough ” scenario and inner voice that lets you know in all different sorts of situations that we are not enough. It is so hard to wrap my head around that God loves me for me mistakes and all and when we ask forgiveness for past mistakes etc it is forgiven and we should let go. In Corinthians God explains love and love keeps no record of wrongs, God is Love so when He forgives its forgiven over and done with. Thanks for the reminder that if God loves us then we must be enough.
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Oh yes… such an important thing for us to know, even when it might be hard to understand, that He keeps no record of wrongs! I am one for sure that works on the “letting it go” thing. Thank you, Jas!
Beth Williams says
Jennifer,
I have long heard the voices of “not enough”! It is so hard to realize that God loves me no matter what!! Those lies come from the devil and he wants us to believe them so we feel inadequate and don’t think on God’s love!! We can fight that by prayer just talking to Jesus and basking in the knowledge that WE ARE ENOUGH and He loves us Warts and ALL!!
Blessings 🙂
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
It is the “no matter what” that makes it so hard, isn’t it, Beth? His love is just beyond our understanding! Fighting by prayer… yes, exactly! Thank you, Beth!
Beth says
I too, like so many women, have struggled with this lie and still get caught up in to it more frequently than I’d like…but the older I get, the more I’m realizing that I was shaped, molded, designed, put together in the way that I am for a greater purpose than I can see; not so I could always feel fantastic about myself (cuz I mean c’mon, I’m human) but that God could always use me because He made me the way He needed me to be – and that is enough!
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
That is enough! Love your way of thinking, Beth. We don’t know why He made us the way He did, but we need to trust it was for a greater purpose!
Nancy Ruegg says
“God could always use me because He made me the way He needed me to be.” Thank you for that, Beth. How reassuring to rest in that truth!
Beth says
🙂 Yes, indeed!
JeanneTakenaka says
Jennifer, my One Word for 2014 was ENOUGH. Most of my life I have struggled with the lies that accompany that feeling of being less-than. I battled it with people-pleasing, striving, trying harder . . . none of it brought the affirmation and peace I desperately desired.
I love your verses and the truths you speak here. And these words, “Be confident knowing that every part of what makes us unique both inside and out, is perfect and treasured.” Yes, they resonate. Thank goodness God loves us simply because. We never have to earn His love. He’s already given it. We can’t earn more of it because He already loves us completely.
Yes, I loved your post today. 🙂
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Ahh, yes… simply because. Just resting in that today. Thank you, Jeanne. And what a great “one word” to pick for a year!
Joanne Peterson says
Jennifer, I come from the place of doctors and appointments, reports, tracking medical conditions looking for answers because of procedures, for medications, for sleep patterns, for school issues, counseling sessions, for speech therapy, etc for help with my boys for evidence of proving procedures, interventions, and services are needed. I so often am dismissed by people from all different walks of life. That’s where I feel inadequate with all of the effort. I’m not people pleasing, but the invalidation, the judgement, and the dismissal get tiring to advocate for my boys, and for us. We don’t have the visible physical need for help and services, and makes it less obvious we know and believe why we are asking for what we are asking. I was at a training for learning how to advocate for our boys for and IEP for them. When to trainer started off with “Instead of taking your child to extracurricular activities like other people, you are taking them to doctor visits”, I knew this woman understood. I can now hear God saying He is fighting for us and will fill in the blanks. We/I need to listen and obey, and He knows the journey is hard. I’m not enough to make things happen, and I will forget the many things that are required of me, but He is. I used to compare, but my life doesn’t reflect the experience most other women have. It’s just a fact. This is so beautiful, and just what I needed today after feeling both understood, and beat up, and overwhelmed. Joanne
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
I am so sorry for all you have to journey through, Joanne. I can see how you would be overwhelmed! Grateful to hear you found a person that understood, I know how much that helps. Praying for you and your boys, that He continues to fill in the blanks and through this difficult journey you feel His love.
Kathy says
Jennifer, thank you for so beautifully articulating this issue that I have struggled with all my life. I call “am I enough?” the question of my life. Thank you for the reminder that in Jesus, I am enough because He is enough!
Also, I love the cross, which is a visible reminder of that. Do you sell them?
Thanks so much!
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Grateful you took to heart the message that you truly are enough, Kathy! I do sell crosses, you can contact me through my site for more information.
Trudy Den Hoed says
Sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the posts coming into my inbox, and I have to pass some by, but when I saw this title, I knew I had to read it. I’m so glad I did. It was a God-thing. Thank you so much for this encouragement, Jennifer. That “not enough” voice in me can be so persistent and vicious sometimes, and it’s weighing hard on me today. I so easily forget, so I really needed to be reminded that we are enough in Jesus. I love this – “He sees what we cannot see in ourselves. He sees the beauty He created, when we feel flawed. He sees the strength He created, when we feel cracked.” I need to look at myself through His eyes, not my own. Blessings to you!
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
I am so happy you chose to read this from all the posts coming in your inbox. It is easy to forget to look out ourselves through His eyes. He sees the beauty He created in you, Trudy! I pray that truth sinks in deep today!
Rebecca Jones says
Jennifer, Excellent post, only Jesus can satisfy our souls. All those feelings of inadequacy are from that accuser of the brethren. Bev is right, only I guess I’d be on my stationary bike going nowhere. God stamps us with His seal of approval if we are doing our best for Him.
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Oh yes… He stamps us with His seal of approval! Love that, Rebecca!
Rebecca Jones says
Hi Jennifer, Thanks for the reply. As I read it, I thought about being sealed with the Holy Spirit. That is definitely a seal of approval.
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Oh yes!
Nancy Ruegg says
Yes, I know God sees me; he is my El Roi. But I greatly appreciate your insight, Jennifer: “He sees the beauty He created..He sees the strength He created.” So encouraging! My Heavenly Father is cheering me on to embrace who I am and what he’s given me to do. Thank you, Jennifer!
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Oh what a beautiful thing, Nancy… to be cheered on by your Heavenly Father!
N K Wolfe @ livingcenter.me/ says
When I talk to myself about not being enough, at least one sentence in the monologue includes the word “should.” And, neither of those words reflects God’s picture of me.
But the word “treasure” – yes. Thank you for using that sweet word more than once. When I’m at my worst, I try to remember: I am a treasured child of the most high God. xoxox
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Yes, Nancy… you are a treasured child of His!
Megan Curran-Bucher says
It really is exhausting….never being good enough. I cannot cling to Jesus tight enough lately. There are a million things I want to do every day….but why? Who’s agenda am I following? I have missed my kids everyday since they have been in school all day…yet, today they were both home sick from school and I stayed up at my desk writing and studying away. I feel like a hot mess of not good enough today. Thank you for this post. It helped encourage me when I was on the brink of tears after a long day…with a lot laundry undone.
Meg
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
Aww, Meg… I feel for you as I am responding with dishes in my sink. Allow yourself grace, dear girl. Praying you can lean on the truth that you are enough and He loves you so much!
Megan Curran-Bucher says
Thank you, and praise for sisters in Christ to hold each other up. Much love to you.
Jennifer {StudioJRU} says
It is a great topic to remind others, isn’t it, Kristi! Thank you!