::: I Am Enough :::
We all struggle with self doubt...wondering at times if we're smart enough, beautiful enough, talented enough...are we enough? Throughout my life there have been times when I've wondered all of these things. Different situations that we face in life cause pressure from these different areas, often leading to self doubt. For instance - A beautiful, sporty, artistic, smart, Christian woman joins your Bible study...she is also a great mother, works just enough and volunteers in her free time...to you she seems perfect. She's thin but curvy, has straight hair smoothed into beautiful curls, striking features, and she wears the smartest clothes. She seems to do everything right. You try not to be jealous, but even in your striving to not notice, you do, and you secretly wonder - am I enough? Am I beautiful enough? Am I thin enough? Smart enough?
So often I wonder these things, especially when I meet other young women who seem to be all of these things at once. Of course, we all know that they are not perfect. But they do seem to be awfully close to perfection...and certainly closer than I am.
How do we respond to our own nagging sense of self worth?
We turn to God's Word.
Throughout time God has dealt with his disciples' own struggles with self worth. They wondered if they were enough for the job, able to serve him even in the midst of their imperfections. And He answered, 'Yes'!
Turn to these scriptures with me and let's delve into what God has in store for us...his acceptance!
Exodus 4:1-17
1 Samuel 16:1-13
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." (Psalm 139: 13-14)
Isaiah 43:1-4
"You are precious and honored in my sight, and...I love you." (Isaiah 43:4)
Romans 5:8, 8:37-39
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life; neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
*God MADE us and all his works are Wonderful
*God focuses on our souls which are eternal, not our earthly bodies which quickly wither and fade away
*Low self-esteem brings fear of failure, lack of confidence, and procrastination...these things keep us from accomplishing God's will
"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 in 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)
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
(Romans 8:26-27)
We are beautiful, intelligent, and talented the way we are. In God's eyes we are Enough. And through His grace, we can choose to be enough in our own eyes.
I am Enough. You are Enough.
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