I was always one of the last
chosen. I was always on the B-team. I could hardly get a date in high
school. I really can’t tell you how many
times I felt “not good enough,” because of others perceptions of me and their
actions towards me. I struggled most of
my life with feeling “not good enough.”
And, every day, I work with people who grew up with that same perception
of themselves. Not good enough.
Never mind there doesn’t seem to
be a true standard by which we are to measure ourselves. Never mind that is not what anyone ever
actually said to us. The message came
through loud and clear. Not good enough.
As I said, that is how I felt
about myself for a long time. I found
out I was in good company. Consider this
cast of characters.
An impulsive, cowardly, doubter,
wth low self-esteem and a temper.
A vain temperamental, womanizer,
and show-off.
A complacent, compulsive, sex-addict.
Would these be good enough? Apparently they were. God used them to accomplish great
things. You may recognize them as:
Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Sampson, and David.
I like to say, “If God can use a
donkey, He can certainly use me.” It isn’t
low self-esteem. At one point, I
realized I needed to quit thinking that I had to be good enough for God to be
able to use me. When I finally admitted
I wasn’t good enough, instead of feeling worse, I felt better. It meant I could quit trying; because, no
matter how hard I try, I will never be good enough, at least on my own. The more I think it is up to me, the worse I
feel because I know I could never be good enough on my own.
The only way I can be good enough is by surrendering control of my life, and giving it to God. It doesn’t matter how I feel about myself or what others may think of me. There’s nothing I can do on my own and nothing anyone can do for me. God’s statement on the cross was, “I will make you good enough,” but I was unable to feel that way until I accepted that I wasn’t good enough. When I did accept it, I was freed from the guilt, shame, and feelings of discouragement that came from my constant failures.
We are only good enough, because
of the sacrifice of the perfect life of Christ on our behalf. We only cheapen that sacrifice by thinking we
can become good enough through our own efforts.
Accept it. Deal with it. You aren’t good enough…and that is just the
way it is.
Godspeed, Phil
Never mind there doesn’t seem to
be a true standard by which we are to measure ourselves. Never mind that is not what anyone ever
actually said to us. The message came
through loud and clear. Not good enough.
As I said, that is how I felt
about myself for a long time. I found
out I was in good company. Consider this
cast of characters.
A liar, deceiver, polygamist, and non-believer.
A proud, boastful, naïve, deceiver.
An impulsive, cowardly, doubter,
wth low self-esteem and a temper.
A vain temperamental, womanizer,
and show-off.A complacent, compulsive, sex-addict.
Would these be good enough? Apparently they were. God used them to accomplish great
things. You may recognize them as:
Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Sampson, and David.
I like to say, “If God can use a
donkey, He can certainly use me.” It isn’t
low self-esteem. At one point, I
realized I needed to quit thinking that I had to be good enough for God to be
able to use me. When I finally admitted
I wasn’t good enough, instead of feeling worse, I felt better. It meant I could quit trying; because, no
matter how hard I try, I will never be good enough, at least on my own. The more I think it is up to me, the worse I
feel because I know I could never be good enough on my own.
The only way I can be good enough is by surrendering control of my life, and giving it to God. It doesn’t matter how I feel about myself or what others may think of me. There’s nothing I can do on my own and nothing anyone can do for me. God’s statement on the cross was, “I will make you good enough,” but I was unable to feel that way until I accepted that I wasn’t good enough. When I did accept it, I was freed from the guilt, shame, and feelings of discouragement that came from my constant failures.
