Realizing We're Not Enough

We are not enough. Not on our own, anyway. You may not want to hear that, but it's the truth. I know it rubbed me the wrong way at first. It goes against what I wanted to believe about myself. I wanted to think I could do it all on my own if I just tried hard enough. But I can't.

You and I will never be able to measure up to the impossibly high standards we set or the ones our society sets for us. They're not realistic.

We just can't do it by ourselves. Try as we might, we're not enough on our own.

We're not strong enough to shoulder the weight of all our responsibilities.

We're not organized enough to keep everything running smoothly all the time.

We're not smart or knowledgeable enough to have the answers to all the questions fired at us.

Enough is a mirage that cannot be caught. You and I can keep chasing it, or we can quit the childish game the enemy taught us young. -Jennie Allen, Nothing to Prove

On our own, we aren't enough. We never will be. But we can choose to quit trying to be. 

We can embrace our imperfections and shortcomings as the very things that make us human and relatable.

Instead of living like we have something to prove, we can walk in the freedom that is found in knowing we have absolutely nothing to prove.

I am realizing it's not my curse that I believe I am not enough; it's my sin that I keep trying to be. All the while Jesus is saying, I want to free you from your striving, free you from your doubt, free you from your pride that cares more about your achieving something than you receiving something. I am enough. So you don't have to be. - Jennie Allen

Isn't that beautiful? Isn't it freeing? We don't have to be enough because our God is enough. His strength is made perfect, made known, made clear to the world, in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We may not be enough, but our God is. He is strong enough, wise enough, powerful enough, kind enough, and great enough for everything we could ever need.

We don't have to worry about our inability to do it ourselves. We don't have to keep striving to keep all of our plates spinning, or to keep our masks of self-sufficiency in place.

We have the freedom to make mistakes, knowing that we are loved not because of our ability to perform, but because we are beloved children of God.

May you and I focus on that truth today and walk in freedom, knowing we have nothing to prove.

What do you think? Do you struggle with trying to be self-sufficient? Do you have tips and tricks that remind you that your worth is found in God instead of doing it all yourself? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

Further reading:

Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard by Jennie Allen