How to Make Your Not Good Enough More than Good Enough

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The world wants to tell you that you're good enough but God says we're not good enough. Thankfully He has given us a way to be more than good enough!

The other day while I was praying, I asked the Lord what He wanted me to share with you,
and I felt Him say, “Tell them they’re not good enough.”

“Lord, don’t You want me to tell them they are good enough.”

“No. Tell them they’re not good enough.” 

“Lord, that will not help my blog stats!
People want to hear how good they are, not that they fall short.”

And again, “not good enough.”

But before I started writing about falling short, I decided to search the internet those back-patting quotes that attempt to make us feel better about ourselves…

I found:

good enoughand

Enough-is-enough-quotes-and-sayings-300x300

or
The momentand many more.

You and I so desperately want to be “good enough.”

But when I stop long enough, to be honest with myself,
I know I’m not or I wouldn’t crave constant affirmation!

Like you, I love morale-boosting quotes,
but they really only help for a moment or two. Right?!

Simple pat on the back encouragement never lasts because I know the truth.

I fall short as a:
Spouse
Parent
Child
Friend
Neighbor
Follower of Christ
and so much more!

No matter how hard I try…
or how often I tell myself I’m good enough,
I know I’m flawed and that’s frustrating.

But accepting the truth that I’m “not good enough,”
is the beginning of really good news…

I don’t have to be good enough!
And you don’t either!

The world wants to tell you that you're good enough but God says we're not good enough. Thankfully He has given us a way to be more than good enough!

You and I can stop trying to do it all.
We don’t have to look perfect and impress others.
We can stop trying to please everyone around us.

We can let go of the quotes, slogans, and pep talks that will never satisfy
or convince us we’re better than we know we are.

For years, I tried everything.
I tried people-pleasing and rule-following.

I read self-help books by the dozens . . .
anything that would give me direction and make me feel better about myself.

I tried everything I could think of, but NOTHING WORKED!

Then God showed me the problem…

I believed in Jesus, but…
I didn’t trust that God’s love and forgiveness are
UNCONDITIONAL.

Can you relate?

It took a life crisis that sent me to God’s Word and to my knees
for me to really accept that no matter how hard I try
I can’t save myself.

I’m a sinner!

For everyone has sinned;
we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
Romans 3:23

And I need Jesus!

The amazing thing is when I finally surrendered my mess,
my not good enough, and repented … everything changed.

I discovered what God knew all along.

Although, I’m not good enough…

I am loved.

Just the way I am.

Not good enough. Undeserving. Yes!

But perfectly and completely loved.

And you are too!

Look at just a few of God’s promises:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” 
Jeremiah 31:3

God’s love is perfect, lasting, unconditional.

God loved the world so much that
He gave His one and only Son.

John 3:16

The gift of Jesus, God’s one, and only Son,
is the Father’s, unconditional love.
His grace, mercy, forgiveness now and always.

So, although, it’s true, you and I are not good enough,
we can completely trust and count on the One who is.

Jesus
God’s love and forgiveness in the flesh.

He is more than enough!

And…

When I stopped trying to make everyone happy.
Stopped trying to do it all.
Stopped comparing myself to others.

When I accepted that I am not now, never was and nor will I ever be…
good enough on my own…

That’s when I really began to cherish the gift of Jesus.

Overwhelmed by HIS LOVE

Our hearts really do change when we look at the cross and see
the One whose perfect love and sacrifice covers our not good enough.

He said,
“My grace is all you need.
My power works best in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Humble weakness surrendered to the King of kings,
is covered by God’s grace and filled with the Spirit’s power.

And that’s all we need!

On my own, I’m not good enough.
I’m pretty sure you’re not either.

But God…

Through Christ Jesus, has made us better than just good enough,
He’s made us…

Forgiven
A New Creation
Righteous
Holy
His Child
Free
Complete
Perfect
Loved!

Jesus is the blessing of Christmas
and the miracle of Easter.

The Way, the Truth, and the Life!

So stop.
Breathe in His love.
Breathe in His grace and mercy.
Breathe Christ Jesus into your need for affirmation.

He alone is the One who makes not good enough . . . more than enough.

Leave your prayer requests…

and stop to pray one or two of the requests listed.

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14 Comments

  1. Amen and AMEN! I’m good enough because He was perfect!

    1. I’m so glad you visited Liz. I visited your place and I love it. Look forward to getting to know you better in the future. Blessed Christmas to you!

  2. heather m. says:

    Loving this Deb!! ♥ Thanks for sharing what God put on your heart and thank God that he is good enough all the time so we don’t have to be! Happy Christmas!

    1. Thank you, Heather. It’s always risky to share what’s “unpopular” but the truth is just so much better than the trend. Blessed Christmas to you as well.

  3. Not good enough but loved enough! Beautiful post, Deb. We all need reminding of these truths so often.

    1. Trusting that it’s okay to NOT be good enough (because it’s impossible anyway) changed my life. I knew the difference between Law and Gospel in my head, but sure had trouble living it out in my life. For me, a piece of God’s grace was all about showing me to follow Him out of love not out of fear. Enjoy a wonderful Christmas Lisa!

  4. Well written! Love this! Blessings to you and yours!

    Marie

  5. Beautiful blog post. So much goodness!!! Thank you 🙂

  6. This was a really nice post. I enjoyed it <3

  7. This is so good to remember!

  8. Christina Myers says:

    Love how you listened to Him and wrote this post. I laughed aloud reading your conversation with Him about this not helping your blog stats. Ah, I love that we can have those real conversations with Him! I hope and pray that all who need to read your post will.

  9. Deb, I enjoyed this very much. I’m thankful for a Saviour who loves me and accepts me for who I am. Thank you for sharing this encouragement with Thankful Thursdays.

  10. Deb,

    Thank you for being obedient to share what God placed on your heart. I’m not good enough, whatever that means, on my own… Yet Jesus is good enough, I’m so thankful for all Jesus did for us!

    Blessings!

    Kim