but our adequacy is from God.
2 Corinthians 3:5 (CSB)
I don’t remember the first time I didn’t measure up. But I do remember the first time I stopped measuring. I was a freshman in college, rooming with my twin sister. I called my mom on the phone and said, “Mom, did you know I’m petite?”
She laughed at my crazy question and said, “Of course, honey. You’re 5’2”. That’s petite by most standards. Why are you asking?”
I replied, “But Mom, I’m the big twin. I had no idea I was petite!”
This new realization was remarkable to me. I had spent my entire childhood being compared to my twin sister. We were born five minutes apart, and I towered over her 4’10” frame. I was shocked when someone referred to me as petite. But that’s because I was measuring myself by the wrong perspective. And that’s what comparison does: it skews our view of ourselves and we begin to believe the lie that says we aren’t pretty enough or smart enough or stylish enough or skinny enough or tall enough or young enough or whatever enough.
We can never be all those things and certainly not at the same time. But that’s okay. We don’t have to be enough. Because Jesus is. All the time. And even better, through Christ, we are enough. He takes our inadequacies and unrighteousness and exchanges it for His perfection. When we don’t measure up, He does. And that is enough for all of us.
Whisper a prayer of thanks — that Jesus takes all our “not enough-ness” and He makes up for everything.
This message was written by (in)courage alum Kristen Welch and appears in A Moment to Breathe: 365 Devotions That Meet You in Your Everyday Mess, a devotional from the (in)courage community available at DaySpring.com and wherever books are sold.
We don’t have to be enough. Because Jesus is. All the time. - @weareTHATfamily: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Kristen,
Comparison…I believe it is one of the most insidious weapons in the enemy’s arsenal. The moment we take our eyes off Jesus, he begins whispering lies of comparison. If he can keep us focused on ourselves and our inadequacies instead of on who we are in Christ, then he wins a major battle. Let’s not give him the satisfaction. We will never measure up to the fantasy versions we see of others. When I find my eyes wandering, comparing, that’s my cue to get my eyes back where they belong. I will ALWAYS come up short in the comparison game. It’s a no-win battle. But, when I read God’s truth that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and remember He sent His son to die just for me… that gives me confidence. In Christ, I am more than enough.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Beautifully said, Bev!
Thank you, Kristen, for words that give us permission to throw out our broken yardsticks and to spend this Monday morning listening for the voice of Jesus telling us the truth about ourselves.
I have often wondered if I will ever measure up. Too family. I am the only one saved in my family along with my Husband. I cry too God at different things say nothing. As it no worth it as row would start. I pray for my family. But I am thank full I have God no matter what. Even when I have no one else I have Jesus and his word the Bible. His word says in Matthew 28 verse 20 Says That he (Jesus) is with me to the end of the age. Meaning he (Jesus) will never leave me. Even if Family and Friend let us down. And you wonder if you are not good enough. Yes You are. That is only the Old Devil telling you that. God loves you so much he sent Jesus to Die for you John 3 verse 16 tell us that. FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERYLASTING LIFE. I SAY AMEN TOO THAT. Excellent Excellent reading. Love Dawn xxx
DAWN MY FAMILY (DAUGHTERS) TREAT ME LIKE IM NO ONE. SWEAR AT ME , TELL ME THEY ARE ASHAMED OF ME DUE TO THE FACT I HAVE DEPRESSION. THEY ARE NOT THAT YOUNG 27 , 29 I FEEL LIKE I WASTED MY BEST YEARS RAISING THEM WE WERE VERY CLOSE THEN SOMETHING HAPPENDED IN COLLEGE YEARS . I M STARTING A NEW MED FOR THE DEPPRESSION PRAYERS FOR SOME RELIEF
Dawn my daughters treat me awful they swear at me make me feel bad about myself they say they are ashamed of me due the fact i have deppression. Truly they make my depression worse. Starting a new med for the deppression prayers i get some much needed relief
I honestly think every woman has something she believes she won’t measure up to…thankyou for your message here. I have been there a thousand times ! walking out of a job interview for pastoral job … the man said to me ” you’re over qualified by most means but we are going with a male pastor “, that was my moment in life that I realized no matter how hard we keep trying to measure up there will always be someone to knock us down !
praise Jesus that HE knows we are enough and that he is there for us. can’t imagine a day without him helping !!
My adequacy comes from God–now there’s a battle cry worth shouting every morning! Thank you, Kristen!
Kristen,
I was always picked last for sports in school. While two of my sisters can sing & play guitar-not I. I was born with two punctured ear drums. Not being able to hear for about the first few years was hard. I am tone deaf & petite like you. Guess what? It doesn’t matter. What matters is how God sees me. He sees a beautiful woman who loves helping older people. I have done the comparison thing & felt not enough, pretty, smart, etc. Then I realize that I am made in the image of almighty God. He is perfect. I am enough with Him. Comparison is just a trick of the devil to get our eyes off God & onto worldly things & people. That may work with some, but I have grown spiritually. I realize I am pretty & talented. In this world we may never measure up to its standards. In God’s economy we more than measure up. He calls us His princesses. We are brides waiting for the bridegroom to come. Look at the truth of God’s word & get your identity from Him alone.
Blessings 🙂
I feel this way more often than I want to admit. I think this society creates in us this feeling of inadequacies. We have to be this way by a certain age, achieve this, have this, do this and so forth. All of these unrealistic expectations for us made to us from a world that doesn’t value the simple things, the truth of His way definitely can do so much damage to what we feel we need to do to measure it. No matter what we achieve or do or have, yes it is by His grace that we are here, that He loves us and while we are still sinners, He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. So let us not dwell on what we think is enough or not enough. His love is enough for us and we must remind one another of this. Sure I can have everything but will that truly mean that is enough, will that make me happy, bring me joy? There is no other greater joy than knowing that God loves me and He believes I am worth dying for. That is enough to me. Thank you for sharing this.