You Need to Know This When You are Not Enough

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I’m guessing you’re like me and that you share my struggle.

You have the voice in your head that remembers and repeats every hurt-filled accusation.

And a mirror that faithfully points out every little imperfection.

You know the whispers of lost friendships that want you to believe you’re just not worth it.

And you count every share and comment while you wonder if your story matters.

You live too many days with physical or emotional pain that reminds you of your weaknesses.

And somehow you start to listen and believe the message that you’re not enough. You’re “less than.”

So, we try to build each other up through blog posts and articles. We type our fingers raw trying to convince ourselves and each other that the message that haunts and nags just isn’t true.

But if you’re like me, it seems no matter how hard I fight them … my “not enough” thoughts persist.

And I’ve recently come to the conclusion that:

It’s true! I am not enough. I am less than.

This is not meant to discourage you nor is it a true confession about giving in to self-loathing.

The reason for this post is to tell you that although I do have an ongoing struggle with the way I view myself, by God’s grace I am confident there is a  greater truth that gives me victory when those two sentences (I am not enough. I am less than.) try to defeat me.

And the greater truth is this…

God is All You Need When You are Not Enough

God is greater than my “not enough” and He’s greater than yours too! 

But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4

I love this verse.

Although feelings matter, let’s look past them for a moment … let’s look beyond the the things trying to defeat and discourage us to God, who is greater. He is our enough!

3 Truths from 1 John 4:4 that will Defeat Discouragement

1. You belong to God.  

Through faith in Jesus, you are God’s child. You are chosen, adopted, and loved. You belong to Him.

Say it out loud until you really believe it … because of Jesus, I belong to God.

On our own, you and I are not enough but God is always and forever more than enough. He is forever and always greater than any circumstances, all imperfections, every weakness, and each bit of brokenness without exception.

Through His Holy Spirit, God is with you and in you. He has marked you as His own. You are loved and you belong to God!

For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:26

2. You have victory in Jesus.

However you and I feel, in Christ Jesus, we can have victory. Victory over our accusers, our former friends, discouragement, the mirror, the weaknesses of our bodies, and yes, even the voices in our heads.

Jesus has won the victory over sin, death, and the power of Satan. He defeated them all on the cross. We are not defeated because of the One who won the victory for us and given us all we need to live with victory over anything that tries to discourage us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:35,37

3. You have the Spirit within you.

The Holy Spirit to whom you belong, who loves you and gives you victory, lives within you.

And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Galatians 4:6

And the good news is the Spirit living within us fills us with all we need to defeat every message that works to discourage us. I love that He whispers victory giving truth when we need it most.

And He is more than able to give us everything we need.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Galatians 5:22–23a

My goal, going forward, is to turn to the Lord in prayer each time I’m discouraged by the feeling that I’m “not enough.”

Trusting that the Spirit will remind me that:

• I am loved. You and I are lovable. God says so! And we have everything we need to love others … even those who don’t love us. We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be His own people. 1 Thessalonians 1:4
• This difficult season will end. Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5
• I have all I need for today, tomorrow, and forever. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

We’re going to have our “not enough” thoughts and feelings. They’re a given and a favorite of the “spirit of the world.”

But you and I have all we need to be victorious over them. 

We can replace them with the truth … God’s truth!

And the way to know God’s truth is by asking ourselves a couple of questions:

1. Do I feel like I’m not enough because of sin in my life?

If the answer is “yes” — you and I need to quickly go to God in repentance and ask Him to forgive us.

The good news He is always faithful to forgive and cover us with His victorious love once again.

2. Do I feel like I’m not enough because I’m believing the lies of comparison?

If your answer is “yes” — join me in a commitment to stop comparing and trust God’s specific plans and purposes for my life. May you and I faithfully seek God’s will each day and follow wherever He leads.

And replace the lies with God’s truth by…

Memorizing God’s promises, like:

I am with you always Matthew 28:20

I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. John 15:9 (AMP)

If we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:9

He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Isaiah 40:29

So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

And repeat them every time you need to remember … although you are “not enough” on your own, the One who is with you and within you is more than enough.

He always has been and He always will be!

The greater truth — God is able to give you victory over your “not enough.”

What is your go-to promise when you need to remember that God is more than enough to defeat your feelings of discouragement?

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