You are Good Enough (it's the truth!)

6:00 AM

"I will never be good enough."

Ouch.

I've struggled with this for a long time. "I will never be good enough." And, ever since I began striving to be better, began actively studying the bible, God has taken my hand and slowly, gently, began to show me the truth.

I've believed a lot of lies.

This is one of them.

I have a funny issue. I will believe something about myself, and part of me will know it's wrong, but part of me will keep whispering, "No, it's true. It's so true."

And I won't fully, truly understand how wrong it is until someone else tells me that same lie in application to themselves. Then I see the dirtiness of the lie, the wrongness of it, and say, "NO! That is NOT true. Here's why ..." and then, when I'm not emotionally connected to it, when I'm not taking it in application to me and I'm finding the answer for another person, the truth comes to light. Hopefully for both of us.

In this case, I have Grace to thank. She commented on my last post saying that she didn't feel her writing was "good enough". Before that comment, I had no idea what I was going to post about. I've learned so much in June, I didn't know where to go next. So I prayed for something that would uplift and encourage. God never fails, does He?

(Thank you, Grace. I hope you don't mind me mentioning your comment! <3 )



"I will never be good enough."

Do you believe this?

This is a tricky lie. See, in some ways, it is true. But in others, it is sooooo so wrong.

It all depends on this question: What is our definition of "good enough"?

There are two ways you can take this (actually, there are probably more but I'm going to handle two different ways today).

Here's the first.


"I will never be good enough because ... I can never be perfect."


In this aspect of the "never good enough" issue, you are under the impression that you can never be "good enough" in regards to earning your salvation and deserving God's love.

In this case, you are right. You can't. You can not earn your salvation. Your salvation is a gift from our loving Father. Nothing you will ever do can make you deserving of that.

BUT. (here's the catch)

You don't have to be good enough. You don't have to be perfect, because you CAN'T be perfect. Not on your own, at least.

The New Testament talks a lot about being "perfect". But what does that mean? Matthew 5:48 says, "Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

What does that mean? How can we be perfect like God?

We can't. BUT. We can.

Hehe. Ehem. Allow me to explain.

We can't. Not on our own. But since Jesus died, and his blood continually washes our sins away as we walk in His light (1 John 1:7-9) we are perfect. We are perfect and pure and holy so that we can stand before God, blameless and clean.

But not by our own deeds. Only by Jesus can we be "good enough".

So yes, you can never be good enough. Not on your own. So the good news is, you don't have to be. You just have to do your best. Which leads to the second way you can take this lie.

The second way you take this lie is by thinking you can't be good enough in regards to, "My writing will never be good enough" or "I will never be good enough at sports" or just plain, "I will never be good enough."

And if you're just taking that lie like that, then ... You're wrong.

IF. (here's the catch to this lie)

If you are being the best you can be in the moment you are living, then you are good enough. If you are trying your hardest, if you are being the best you you can possibly be, then you ARE good enough. You are being as good as you can be. And that is enough.

Why torture and hate yourself for not being more than you can be in the moment you are living? If I write a story, and I edit it until it shines with all the skill I am capable of, then -- in THAT MOMENT -- I have done the best I can.

And that is enough.

I can't do more. Not yet. I will grow as the days pass, and more so as months follow. And when years have gone by, and I am in college, or I am out of school and have a job, I will be better than I was today, but I will still be growing. I will never stop growing.

There is no mark I can hit where I can say, "Okay! That's enough! I am exactly at the place I want to be so I can just stop trying now." That can't happen. Why are you hating yourself because you are not who you can't be?

If you are doing your best, then you are your best. And that's what we've got to do. That's what we're aiming for and striving for. To live lives worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1-2), always striving to be the best we can be.

We all mess up. We all constantly fall short and make mistakes. But if you're being as good as you can be, then you are good enough.

Have you battled with this lie? Does this post help you see the truth, or start you down the road that will lead you to it? Are there any aspects I didn't cover, or bits of advice/verses you've found? 

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20 comments

  1. Excellent post, Hannah. <3

    I struggle with this a lot. It is very true that the fear of not being good enough, and thinking that we weren't good enough in the past can cripple our will to try something new.

    I am NOT good enough on my own. But Christ covered that, and He is making me more like Him as I learn and grow.

    Again, wonderful post. You have great wisdom. :)

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    1. Right? Fear is the opposite of love, and God IS love so ... why should we live in constant fear of own failures? Thank God for His Son and His sacrifice! We could have no joy without what He's done for us.

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  2. This post is exactly what I need right now, thank you Hannah, <3

    I've battled this lie a lot, and this, this is just really amazing and helpful. :D

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    1. I'm so glad! Keep striving to stay in the light, Hannah! <3

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  3. What a wonderful post, Hannah! This is such a big topic, and it was so nice to hear your thoughts and words of encouragement. <3

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    1. Thank you, lovely! <3 This revelation is still so new to me, I'll probably post about it again XP

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  4. I really needed this today :)

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    1. Go about your day in joy, Skye! His grace will cover you, so long as you stay steadfast and walking in His light <3

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  5. Goodness, Hannah, you hit home with me.

    I struggle with this lie A LOT. Like, everyday, several times, a lot. My most common version is the second way to take it: "I will never be good enough for a guy to love me." *sigh*
    But truly, I've recently been thinking and praying about it a lot. And I think ... I'm coming to discover that yes, I will be good enough--when the right guy comes along. He'll love me, down to my icky, ugly, rotten core. I'll be good enough for him.

    But I do struggle with the first one, too. I will NEVER be perfect (at least not in the same way as God), but I know that Jesus gavr his LIFE so that I can be "perfect". And that makes my heart smile.


    Beautiful post, Hannah <3<3<3 Thank you for sharing what you're learning about God with us--it's more helpful than you may ever know :)

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    1. That's how I used to be, until I realized this. I might have cried just a bit. It being such a huge struggle in my life, a constant whisper and reminder, the truth was just so relieving and lifted the burden sin gives that I'd been struggling under for years. The whisper is still there of course, but now I have a hard foundation to throw back at it. Its power over me is fading fast, and with God's help it will soon be gone.

      I'm so glad this post helped you! And about your struggles over 'the guy' ... what I tell myself is that anyone who doesn't love me for who I am, I don't want in my life (at least, not in that way). And since people love/are attracted to different qualities, I may never find someone who loves me for me. But that's okay, because I know who I am and whose I am. I am enough, and so are you. Never think less of yourself for not fitting someone else's standard. Strive to fit God's, and that is all you need to worry about. <3

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    2. Yes. Word cannot fully describe how grateful I am for this post, and for you <3 Thank you for helping set me on this path, Hannah. You're a huge inspiration to my faith. :'D

      (I really hope we can meet one day. That would be awesome)

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    3. Oh my goodness you're going to make me cry *sniffles* Ack I wish I could meet you too! They are having the Minneapolis Young Writers Workshop next year also ... You should totally look into that! It changed my life in so many ways, and I'm going again next year. WE COULD MEET. IT COULD HAPPEN.

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  6. :DDD I WILL TOTALLY LOOK INTO THAT.

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    1. ahhh yes! Please do! It would be so amazing to meet youuuuu! <3

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  7. AHHH this is just SO GOOD, Hannah. <3333333
    I don't really have many coherent words to say, but thanks for this encouragement. Because...this *motions to post* is so important for us to remember. We're not good enough on our own, but Jesus makes us good enough. And in our own accomplishments, it ultimately doesn't matter what wacky standard we hold ourselves to. It's all good. ;)

    -Amanda @ Scattered Journal Pages

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    1. Awwww thank you Amanda! <3 I know this doesn't make everything go away, but it hopefully provides some solid ground on which to stand in this tricky issue. :)

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  8. When I first read this, I was like 'cool' then I saw 'Grace' and then thought, "Is there another Grace?" and then I realised that was me! It's okay that you mentioned me but I'm just so shy when other bloggers mention me in their posts, even when it's a tag.

    I'm glad that you wrote this post. You know what? Yesterday was the last day to enter a short story competition and I was like, "nah, I'm not going to post my entry... it's not like I'll even win."

    Then after being on YouTube for a while, I decided to get up and complete my short story. I had to at least TRY this time, even if I didn't win. It's better than not doing anything.

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    1. Lol I thought about just saying "a comment" but I felt you deserved the credit, so I just put your first name. You inspired this post, and I wanted to acknowledge that <3 Thank you for your comments!

      YESYESYES. When we tell ourselves we'll never be good enough, what reason do we have to try anymore? None. Our motivation drains right out of us. After all, what good will it do anyway? FIGHT THE FEAR. FIGHT THE LIES. I'm so proud that you entered! <3

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  9. Hannah, this post was great! What you said about being the best you can be in that moment and always trying to be your best every day made me think of a quote by world famous cellist Pablo Casals. When asked (at age 93) why he continued to practice every day, he said, "Well, I think I’m making progress.
    I think I see some improvement." Point being that we can be content each day with where we are right then, but we are always growing as well. (I find the quote hilarious, and thought you'd like it too. Plus it applies.)

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    1. Yesss that's a great quote! HAAAAHA! I love it *hugs old cellist guy*

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