God says you are enough.
However, I want to ask you a question: Do you feel like you are enough for God?
And honestly, what does “enough” mean anyways?
According to my dictionary “enough” means to be sufficient, adequate, or at a satisfactory level or quantity.
So, do you think you are at an adequate or satisfactory level for God?
That’s what we’ll discuss in this post.
You’ve heard people say that God says you are enough, so then, why don’t we feel like we’re enough? Let’s dive in.
Am I Good Enough for God?
Have you ever wondered, “Am I good enough for God?”
If you’re reading this, then I’m sure you have.
But here’s the thing, you aren’t enough for God.
Wait, wait, wait, don’t click away.
What I mean to say is you aren’t enough when it comes to living up to God’s perfect and holy standard.
Hmm…still not what you were expecting?
Stick with me here, it’ll make more sense in a second.
You see, we live in a fallen world and we have a sinful nature that is simply with us, and has been with us, since birth.
Because of our sinful nature, we do not measure up to God’s perfect and holy standard. So no matter how hard you try, you are not “good enough” for God.
Listen to what the Bible says about all the “good things” we try to do in our own strength:
“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Isaiah 64:6 (NIV)
Wait a minute, filthy rags?? Whaaaaaaat?!
You mean all my tithing, volunteer work, loving my enemies even though they’re being mean to me…that’s all nothing more than filthy rags to God?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!
Unfortunately, yes, it’s true.
But the reason why it’s true is because our God is just THAT GOOD.
He’s so good, so perfect, so righteous, so holy, so [enter in the best words you can think of here], that in comparison to Him, even the very best that we could possibly give Him is like filthy rags.
Womp, womp.
But the reason for this is because our God is a good, good Father. He’s better than anything we could ever imagine.
He is the best thing we can think of, and then a million times more.
One resource I love when it comes to understanding God’s great love for you isCrazy Love by Francis Chan.Click here or the image below to check it out!
Listen to what Jesus has to say even about Himself:
“Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: ‘Good teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?’. ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus asked him. ‘Only God is truly good.’”
Luke 18:19 (NLT)
Wooooow.
So, imagine this:
Everyone’s watching Jesus heal the sick, give sight to the blind, raise the dead, and do all these amazing miracles while at the same time hearing Jesus teach people to give to the poor, be humble, and treat others kindly.
While they’re watching and hearing they’re probably also thinking, “Man, this Jesus guy is a really good guy.”
Yet, even Jesus is like, “Why are you calling me good? Only God is truly good.”
So, maybe at this point we should all go have a good cry because the Magic 8-Ball of life is telling us, “Outlook not so good” because if even Jesus wasn’t good, then honestly, what hope do we have?
But, before you click away feeling all depressed, hear me out.
There is hope because we have Jesus.
God Says I Am Enough
Even though I am not enough in my own strength, I am enough because God says I am enough.
It’s precisely because we are not good enough for God that God sent His Son Jesus on a rescue mission to save us.
That is why we needed of a Savior.
For all those who are in Christ Jesus, YOU ARE good, righteous, and enough because you are covered in the blood of Jesus, WHO MAKES YOU good, righteous, and enough.
You are enough because God has arranged a salvation plan to make you enough.
However, why do we still give into the lie that we are not enough?
Let’s talk about this.
A lot of people think they’re not good enough for God because even though they love Jesus, they’re still super jacked up from their past.
They look at their shortcomings or compare themselves to others…and then depressingly conclude, “I am just not good enough.”
Or they go to church and think:
“There’s no way I belong here! These people are like really, really good people. They’re nearly perfect!”
All I have to say to that is HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
If only you knew.
There’s a reason Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
The truth is, God welcomes anyone and everyone to come to Him! (Jacked up past or not)
Check outFrancis Chan’s book, Crazy Lovefor even more info on God’s great love for you!Click here or the image below to view.
Matthew 11:28 says:
“Come to me,all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
This confuses people because we think, “Wait a minute, I thought I needed to stop smoking, stop drinking, stop cussing, and stop do all these other things BEFORE I am “good enough” to come to God.”
Noooo friends.
No.
Remember the 1990’s Nirvana song, “Come as you are?”
Well, God is saying come as you are – minus the grunge movement, and probably everything else this song has to do with.
God is saying come as you are, but I don’t want you to stay there.
Think about it.
Why would God want you stay where you are when He has so much more He wants to offer you?
It’s not like you have to stop smoking because if you don’t, you’re “not good enough” for God.
Heck no.
God wants you to stop smoking because it’s bad for you and is hurting you.
I have found that THIS is the character of God.
God will ask you to stop doing something because He knows best, and He knows that what you are doing is hurting you somehow.
He doesn’t tell you to stop doing something because He wants to make you feel shameful, unloved, or not enough.
It’s the other guy who makes you feel those things.
God’s heart is to prune these things out of your life so He can heal you, restore you, and make you whole.
It’s from this pruning process that you find yourself breaking free of bondage and things that were keeping you captive. Things that were keeping you from flourishing and growing into the person God created you to be.
Francis Chan’s book, Crazy Loveis a gold mine for explainingGod’s great love for you!Click here or the image below to view.
In John 15 Jesus says:
“He [the Father] cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
John 15:2 (NLT)
Through this pruning process you will experience a healing and restoration happening on the inside of you that you didn’t even know was possible!
When you give your life to Jesus, He begins to do a work in you.
It’s incredible!
So, are you enough?
Without Jesus, I’m sorry to say, no you’re not.
But that’s okay because as Christ followers we have Jesus dwelling on the inside of us and because of Him, God says you are enough.
Because of Jesus, you’ll find that addictions, fears, worries, negative thoughts – literally anything you might be struggling with – will start to break off of you.
This happens because Jesus loves you and has already purchased life-transforming freedom for you.
So come as you are, but don’t stay there because God has so much more for you.
Without God, we might not be enough.
But with God?
FRIEND, YOU ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH.
More Resources on Understanding How You are Enough
My signature course,Passport from Heavenwill also help you understand how you are more than enough for God!
In it I do a deep dive on what the Bible says about your identity in Christ, and how knowing these truths will quite literally change your life. As you can tell, I am very passionate about it.If you’re interested, click here to check it out!
Bible Study Resources!
Just for fun, here’s some of my favorite Bible study tools that have really helped me in understanding the Word of God:
Favorite Bibles and Commentaries:
Favorite Books and Devotionals:
Bible Journaling Supplies:
- Dual Tip Brush Highlighters(they don’t bleed!)
- Colorful Sticky Notes(I’m a big fan of the color scheme in their Bali Collection)
- Bible Tabs(Rose colored)
- Washi Tape
- Bible Journaling Collection Set
Read More
You are Precious to God
How Do I Know God Loves Me?
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Did this post help you understand why God says you are enough? Let me know in the comments below!
As an avid enthusiast with a deep understanding of Christian theology and biblical teachings, I want to address the profound and often challenging concept presented in the article: the idea of being "enough" for God. Drawing upon my extensive knowledge of religious texts and theological discussions, I'll provide insights into the key concepts presented in the article.
The central theme revolves around the tension between human imperfection and God's perfect and holy standard. The article emphasizes the inherent sinfulness of human nature, as described in the Bible. It quotes Isaiah 64:6 (NIV) to illustrate that even our righteous acts are deemed as "filthy rags" in comparison to God's perfection.
The article delves into the paradox that, despite our best efforts and deeds, we fall short of meeting God's standards. It challenges the common notion that our good deeds, such as tithing, volunteer work, or acts of kindness, can make us "good enough" for God. This assertion is supported by the scripture and emphasizes the idea that God's standards are so high that human efforts alone cannot meet them.
The author introduces an intriguing perspective by quoting Luke 18:19 (NLT), where Jesus himself challenges the notion of calling him "good" and asserts that only God is truly good. This adds a layer of complexity to the discussion, raising questions about the inherent goodness of humanity and our ability to meet divine standards.
The article then transitions into a hopeful message by highlighting the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes that, despite our inherent shortcomings, we are declared "good, righteous, and enough" through the salvation brought by Jesus. This core Christian doctrine is central to the belief that, through faith in Christ, individuals are reconciled with God and deemed worthy.
The author addresses the common struggle of feeling unworthy or not good enough despite being a follower of Christ. The message here is that, even with a "jacked-up" past or ongoing struggles, one is still welcomed by God. The article counters the misconception that individuals need to attain a certain level of moral perfection before approaching God.
The biblical references to Matthew 11:28 (NLT) and the invitation to come to God with weariness and burdens underscore the inclusive nature of God's love. The article challenges the idea that one must clean up their act before seeking God, instead advocating for a "come as you are" approach.
The concept of God's pruning process, as outlined in John 15:2 (NLT), is introduced to explain how God shapes and transforms individuals who come to Him. It emphasizes that God's desire is not to shame or condemn but to bring about healing, restoration, and growth.
In conclusion, the article skillfully weaves together theological insights, biblical references, and personal reflections to explore the complex interplay between human imperfection and divine perfection. It navigates through the tension of not being "enough" on our own but finding sufficiency through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. This nuanced and well-supported discussion provides a balanced perspective on the profound concept of being "enough" for God.
