“Am I enough?”
“Am I enough?”
I think this is a question we have all asked ourselves at one point or another. Am I cool enough to be a part of this friend group? Am I smart enough to get this degree? Am I talented enough to land this role? Am I able to handle this job pressure? Will I be a good mom or dad?
We hear this nagging question, “Am I enough?” constantly ringing in our heads, with a deep-seated fear that the answer might one day come back, “no”.
In our little corner of L.A., people love to name drop. And when I say love, I mean love to name drop. It seems like everyone’s aunt is head of A&R at a major record label, or personally knows Scooter Braun, or once toured with Paul McCartney, or is Selena Gomez’s best friend.
When we first moved here, I was impressed. I was like, wow, what accomplished people! Then, I got a little suspicious. I mean, do you all have the same aunt or something? Who is this lady that no one is, but everyone knows? Then, I began thinking about my own history to see if maybe I could say I was connected to someone important. Which, then, slowly turned into desperate prayers that I might become this important person everyone is referencing: “Dear Lord, can I just be the well-connected aunt that people brag to know? I need one major credit and then everyone will respect me!” Not the most altruistic of prayers, I’ll admit.
Romans 12:2 (ESV)
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Slowly, as our compassionate, patient God does, he began to change my heart. He reminded me that this is not how he sees people, so I ought to resist it as well. He showed me who he chose throughout Scripture. He chose the unlikely. When Jesus chose his disciples, for example, he picked a motley crew. They were not the most educated, most well-known, shiniest group. They didn’t have the most money, or the most respect. But they were important to Jesus.
God reminded me that he chose David to be king. David wasn’t even in the running. He was the youngest sibling. He was out tending the sheep. He was small. He was, by society’s standards of birth order and stature, insignificant. But God chose him.
1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
So, let me ask you this, do you sometimes feel like you are not “enough” in terms of the world’s standards? Maybe you don’t think your job is impressive enough, or you make enough money, or your family is not prestigious enough. But can I just say, God chooses you. He doesn’t need you to prove that you are worthy to be invited. He made you, and he loves you. You are, just as you are, enough. You are enough.
Let’s look at Colossians 3:1-4 (NIV)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
You have been raised with Christ, seated at the right hand of God. This verse calls us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. We’re not taking our houses to heaven. Our awards stay here. Our salary numbers don’t matter. No one is a celebrity. Just God. He’s it. He’s the king we will worship. It won’t matter that you’re doing slightly better than or a whole lot worse than all your friends when it comes to world’s standards. God doesn’t care. God thinks you’re enough.
Ephesians 4:22-24 (MSG)
“Take on an entirely new way of life — a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.”
Selah, pause and reflect
Where are you trying to gain earthly significance when God has already chosen you?
PRAYER
Lord, may you set our minds on the things you care about. May we see ourselves, and other people the way that you see us. You are not impressed by the things that impress us. May we be pure of heart. We love you. Amen.
Waking Up - a song all about awakening to the promises and the life that God has for you
