“I’m Not __________ Enough.”

Sharon JaynesConfidence in Christ, Identity in Christ, Renewing your mind with the Truth 29 Comments

Today’s Truth
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Friend To Friend
I’m not _____________ enough. You can fill that blank in with smart, talented, gifted, spiritual, or any number of positive attributes.  But the root source of each one of those lies is “I’m not good enough.” It is one of the enemy’s favorite weapons and he uses it to keep God’s children in bondage to feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy. The bottom line is that the enemy wants you to believe that you are “not enough.” Period. But you are enough. You are enough and have been equipped and empowered to do everything that God has called you to do.

It seems the message of “I’m not good enough to earn my way to heaven on my own,” has been transformed into I’m not good enough…period. God created man and woman and said, “It is good.” We are so valuable to God that He gave His only Son to restore our brokenness.

To be honest, I could have been the poster child for this lie. If feeling inadequate was an Olympic event, I would have been on the Wheaties box. It was the undercurrent of my entire existence until I finally realized who I was in Christ. Bible teacher Beth Moore said, “In the dead of the night when insecurities crawl on us like fleas, all of us have terrifying bouts of insecurity and panics of insignificance. Our human natures pitifully fall to the temptation to pull out the tape measure and gauge ourselves against people who seem more gifted and anointed by God.”  That was me.

Many women are living in silent defeat, comparing themselves to other women who are living in secret defeat. I’m not a good mother. I’m not a good wife.  I’m not a good Christian. I’m not a good witness. I’m not a good housekeeper. I’m not a good decorator. I’m not a good cook. I’m not a good….  Women are caught in a cycle of the “I’m not good enough.” One by one the petals fall from the beautiful flower God created us to be.  Like ticker tape, our fragmented pieces of confidence litter the streets like the Macy’s parade passing by.

Unfortunately, I wasted many precious years held captive by the enemy’s lies before I held up my chained hands to God and said, “I’m ready for you to set me free.”

Consider this:

Jacob was a liar.

Moses was a stutterer.

Gideon was a coward.

David was an adulterer.

Rahab was a prostitute.

Esther was an orphan.

Balaam’s donkey was…well, a donkey.

And yet God used each one of them to impact His kingdom.

God doesn’t call us because we are particularly gifted or talented. He uses us because we are obedient and dependent on Him. He doesn’t call the qualified – He qualifies the called.

The truth is, if you have experienced new birth in Christ, when God looks at you, He sees Jesus.  And friend, Jesus is good enough.

Let’s Pray
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You today. Because of Jesus Christ and His work of redemption in me, I am deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing and totally accepted by You.  Because of Jesus Christ in me, I am equipped and empowered to do all that You have called me to do. Now, LORD, help me act like it.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn 

  • Go back to that first sentence in today’s devotion.  What would you put in that blank?
  • Is that the truth?
  • What do you think God would say to you about what you have written in that blank?

 Are you ready to begin walking in the truth rather than stumbling over the lies?  Are you ready to begin seeing yourself as God sees you?  Then you’ll want to read Sharon’s new book

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Comments 29

  1. Goodmorning,

    I was just about to tell myself that I dont know how I was going to write a literature review for a project. When I received your devotion, it really made me sit up and change my thought pattern. I also remembered I can do all things through Christ who strenthens me.

    May God continue to bless and preserve you.

  2. This spoke to my heart because I struggle with “I’m not _____” every day. There are so many things that I think I’m not but I am now rethinking it. I AM a good wife, I AM a good housekeeper, a good friend, a good wife, a good grandmother, a good worker and a good voice for God. I AM all that I need to be in Christ and I should never let satan steal that from me. I find myself sitting taller after reading the devotional and writing this statement. Thank you Lord for I AM a great person and I can do all things through you.

  3. I always read Girlfriends in God as soon as I reach work. it always impacts my day but espeacially today it made a HUGE impact. Today’s devo was “I’m not _________ enough”. I felt as if I wasn’t good enough christian all last week and I cried all weekend cause I felt I wasn’t good at anything. When I got to work and opened today’s mail, it totally changed my attitude and brought me peace. So i just wanted to thank you from the bottom of heart for that message today!

  4. So many times I beat myself up with thoughts of failure. I look in the mirror and see everything that is wrong with me instead of realizing the love that my Father has for me. I may not be qualified in the eyes of man but my Father qualifies me with his love his patience his mercy and grace. I am his daughter and he will never leave me. Thank you for this post today. By his grace I am enough just as I am.

  5. This definitely meets me where I am. I am at a crossroads where I am beginning to get involved in ministries that I know the Lord has called me to get involved in, but I think I’m not talented enough to be a part of the worship team. I know that it’s not about me, it’s about the Lord, I know this, but it has still been something that has caused fear and intimidation in my life. Thank you for reminding me that I am to come just as I am, and allow Him to use me as He wills. He loves me jsut as I am, not just as I wish I was or would like to be some day in the future. Praise God the beauty of His love for us! Thanks again! 🙂

  6. Normally I do not ever respond to any of the devotionals. However, this was devo was written just for me. I wrote a prayer yesterday- and this devo answered that prayer. Thanks.

  7. Brave………My ex-husband cheated 5 years ago, he remarried and has another baby on the way, he has constantly controlled my life for fear of loosing my two sons. He has a better job, a wife, etc, I live in a mobile home, drive 70 miles a day to work and back and take care of these boys and he never shows up yet constantly yells at them and me for our shortcomings. Im always striving to be the best just so he can’t yell at me. I have prayed so hard to get out of his clutches but he continually draws me in. Its bad enough I have been abused as a child and as a grown up but Im so tired of feeling so inadequate. Im a preey 48 year old women and my attitude is so sad I cant even date. so thank you. I read your book over and over, I just wish it would sink in.

  8. To God Be The Glory,

    Thank you so much for allowing God to use you in such a mighty way!! If ever I needed that devotional it was today. I have been struggling for a while if I’m really able to operate in the calling God has placed over my life. I professed my calling into God’s ministry in October. I will be preaching my initial sermon in Dec. Ther are day’s that I feel noy equip! Today was one of these days until I read the devotional. Thanks for reminding me that with Christ I’am equipand I’am somebody in Christ. Tanks again!

  9. Hey thanks so much for taking the time to remind us of this truth. I struggle with this a lot, and I often feel as though I am not good enough. God is teaching me that because of his grace, and because of Jesus’ death on the cross, I am renewed and I am enough. Thank you again, I need this reminder a lot.
    God Bless,
    Hannah

  10. I am always a woman since childhood that has felt inadequete in all areas. Even when I begin to build up myself the enemy brings someone along to make me doubt myself. I have been working hard to trust in the Lord and build myself up to the woman he has planned for me to be. I have a depression issue and that doesnt help with the insecure feelings I have. I do believe that soon I will be over this hump!

  11. I am not SKINNY enough! This has been whaat I have told myself for 28 years. For a long time, it kept me away from church. I never feel skinny enough for life or for anything that life has to offer, leaving me in my very own isolation. Hopefully this will come to an end now after reading what you wrote.

  12. Sharon,

    I have lived the past 60 years doing exactly what you are writing about. I was raised on the church pews and still I was convinced I was a second class christian. My inferiority and fear ran a great chunk of my life even though I was a functioning “Christian”. Thank God in the last year or so my eyes are opened and I now have a new found love for Our Lord. He is now my “Father” and “Friend”. I do not know why it took me this long to really accept this and believe He actually did love me just as I was and He always takes the “unworthy”, “unable” and lowly people and things in life and makes them His Chosen. Thank God!

  13. I have always felt that I was never good enough to have God’s grace. I have learned however, that God loves me and wants me to know that. You said it right in today’s devotion. There are many lies we tell ourselves, and Christ can do all things for us. He did not say some things, little things, big things…but ALL things. That is what gets me though every day of my life as I celebrate God’s unbending love.

    Yours in Christ
    Diane Ray

  14. This is something I constantly struggle with. It actually reminds me of a children’s book I read recently called “Sidney and Norman: A Tale of Two Pigs.” The book is about how we view ourselves and what God thinks of us.

  15. I just signed up for the Girlfriends in God Devotional over this past weekend. This was the first devotional sent to me. It really touched me because I have told myself that I was not good enough for years. I’m not good enough to get the promotion I want. It always goes to the younger girls that I trained. I am not talented enough. I can’t sing or draw though I love to do both.

    But after reading this devotional, I know that I am good enough for Jesus. He loves me just the way I am.

  16. WOW! i literally went through this feeling this morning, it was awful. I had to speak in tongues to get that feeling out of me, it was weird beyond belief, something had me bound, my mind was toggled. I brought forth a great message last nite at my church, great for me, i got a few compliments but i thought to myselft, it could have been better, i should have said that, i didnt say all the things i needed to say, and on and on, then the thought maybe this isnt my thing, maybe i should just not speak anymore, and if asked again, ill just say nah, im good. So happy to have God in my life because i chose not to stay there. i chose to continue in my studies, bible says to study to show thyself approved and thats what i am getting to, approval from the most high God. Amen. Thank you so much for this even though i just got it, The lord led me to him early this morning.

  17. I struggle everyday with my weight and the way I look, don’t get me wrong I’m not bad looking at all it’s all me, I don’t feel worthy enough, but reading this made me know I am enough for God, I know God love & care for me, I need to fix myself & know God is for me.

    Your Sister in Christ
    Terri

  18. I really needed this. I didn’t get to read this devotion until today but after this weekend I really needed it. I was not having a good weekend as a mother and I was asking why did God answer my prayer to be a mother if He knew that I wouldn’t be good at it. After reading this I know that I am a good mother and with Gods help I can even be better at it. God always sends you words when you need them.

  19. Sharon,

    We just discussed this same topic in my Bible study today. My word is “worthy”. I know the gifts God has given me and I know the vision He has placed in my heart, but fear of not being worthy of His goodness, success and blessings keeps me from pressing forward. I am determined to break free from this lie and I continually pray that God will open my eyes and ears so that I know that I know that I know His truth.

    Thank you for this message and the prayer which I prayed out loud. I now have to act like I am worthy because through Christ I am.

    Be blessed,
    Monica

  20. I never leave comments, but the devotion forwarded to me by a friend was so timely in that my husband of 24 years is divorcing me and I have always struggled with not being good enough and now I feel even worse about myself. But God has been showing me that it has nothing to do with me being good enough at all. God’s love for me is unconditional and he has equipped me to do whatever is in front of me, and it is not what is in front of someone else.

  21. Wow…. the Spirit of the Lord ministered to me through this devotional. At the very MOMENT, that I told the Lord in my heart that I was feeling insignificant, I opened my email in search of a personal one and was drawn to Girlfriend’s in God, then opened the “I’m Not __ Enough devotional.” It spoke right to my circumstance at the exact moment that I needed it. It was a rhema word for me.

    God bless you and thank you for being a yielded vessel. I am going to post the devotional on my facebook page (with the author byline of course) so that other sisters can read it.

  22. I absolutely loved this devotion. I have struggled so many times in my life with this comment in general, and as a single, Christian woman patiently waiting on God’s timing to send me a husband, I constantly think I am not beautiful enough (self esteem has been a huge problem for me). Just reading this and reminding myself that God created us all special was a wonderful reminder. Also, I think I am not faithful enough, like I don’t trust God enough to provide a husband and fulfill the desires of my heart – to be a mom, so this was a great devotion for me:) Thanks so much, I read these devotions daily, and they are wonderful.

  23. I would like to comment on that article it brought tears to my eyes because I often feel as if I am not good enough and I am the one that say negative things to and about myself and I allow others to say negative things about me such I had two so call Friends that told me that because of my attitude and my mouth that I will always be alone and by myself that really hurt my feeling and even though I Know that they do not determine anything about my life I allowed that to get in my spirit and disrupt me emotionally for a little bit. But, after I got over the hurt and disappointment that two people whom I thought was my friend would make such comments I told myself that I will not be defined by other people’s opinion of me because they only make these comments because they are insecure within themselve and if they were a true friend that would not allow hurtful words to come out of there mouth that they know would hurt someone else. Once all that was conquered I got confirmation I sat at my desk and I opened my Girlfriends and God there the words were that brought encouragement and closure to a mute issue I want to say thank you and God bless you for being a blessing to me and to all the other women that you all touch with your words of blessing

  24. Good Morning,

    I read your article and it moved me to the point where my eyes teared up. I have felt this way many times with both friends and family and I know the hurt, like nothing could ease the pain. I also know that sometimes we subconsciously do things that are hurtful to others. We try to avoid doing so but we are human, that is why we, on a daily basis, have to actively avoid temptation and also pray to God for protection against temptation. To all those who feel worthless, Jesus can restore you. Pray…We serve a Mighty God! Have a blessed day all “Girlfriends in God”

  25. I have an interview today for a job promotion. I need God’s protection, love and healing from the nervousness I feel today about them not wanting me for the job. I must rest knowing that if it’s God’s will, the job will be mine and that if it is not His will, He has something even better is in store for me. Lord God Almighty, please let your love shine through me today and let me lean on you!!!

  26. Thank you for this devotional. It was just exactly what I needed for that day. I’ve struggled for the longest time of my 31 yrs feeling not good enough. I identified so much with Beth Moore’s comment on our fears creeping up on us when we lie still at night. I’ve always compared myself with my friends, that they’ve always seemed to have a better life than me and the reason I was behind was because I wasn’t good enough. As God is personally attending to my heart in recent times, I began to believe that I was not good enough to be capable of loving and being a beacon of light because there were other more mature and level headed christian friends. But now, I’m more than convinced that God loves me and that I am good because of Him.

  27. This is a favorite verse. There are so many words I would have once put on that line. I still work at looking at myself through Gods eyes. As we know it’s easier said then done. But, the more I come to know God, the more I come to know me and who He has created me to be, the easier I can tell the lies from the truth. God has given us so much protection, to safeguard ourselves from the enemy. I try and keep Him so close, with His Word in my heart, His Spirit, fellowship, and ministry, that enemy has NO Wiggle room.

  28. Good morning,
    That was my though also, not good enough, not strong enough. I understand now. I am all that I need to be through God who created me! And anything else that He needs me to be, God will equipt me with what I need to become what he wants. Anything else dosen’t really matter.

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