When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough
When I was six years old, I skipped off to school with a new box of crayons, a Swiss-polka-dotted dress, and fresh hope that I would be smart. But first grade only confirmed my greatest fear. I was “not enough.”
As soon as my first-grade teacher held up that initial spelling flashcard, I knew I was in trouble. We lined up our miniature wooden chairs in a row like a choo-choo train. The teacher raised a spelling flashcard for us to identify the word. If we missed the word when it was our turn, we had to go to the caboose. I spent most of the first grade in the caboose. I just couldn’t spell to save my life. For some reason, I especially had trouble with the word the.
I’ll help her, my teacher must have thought. She made me a name tag that read t-h-e, and I had to wear it for two weeks. Students came up to me and asked, “Why are you wearing that tag?” “Is your name ‘The’?” “You must be stupid.” “What’s wrong with you?”
Well, I learned how to spell the word the, but that’s not all I learned. I learned I wasn’t as smart as everybody else, and once again, not enough. And even though I ended up doing well in school, many times I’ve still felt like that little girl in the caboose of the spelling train.
Moses was a man who felt he wasn’t good enough. When God spoke to him through a burning bush and called him to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage, he had a big case of the “not good enoughs.”
That’s when he had a one-sided argument with God. Moses told God he was the wrong man for the job. He wasn’t brave enough, strong enough, smart enough, eloquent enough, charismatic enough, or confident enough.
At one point, Moses said, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”
God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:13-15).
Moses was 80 years old when he had his argument with God at the burning bush. But even the weakest knees in the hands of the great I AM can become a mighty force.
I’ll go out on a limb and say that you too, at one time or another, will struggle with feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy just like Moses did. And the underlying statement feeding the sense of worthlessness is “I’m not __________ enough.” You can fill that blank in with any number of qualities.
But here’s what we need to remember: Whatever we feel we are not, God is. He is the God who fills in our gaps; He is I AM who fills in our blanks.
When we say: God says:
I’m not strong enough. I AM.
I’m not wise enough. I AM.
I’m not bold enough. I AM.
I’m not smart enough. I AM.
I’m not good enough. I AM.
I’m not _____ enough. I AM.
Once we let go of the lies that we are not enough and take hold of the truth that we are more than enough because of Jesus’s presence and power in us, then we will be set free from paralyzing insecurity and be on our way to experiencing courageous confidence to do everything He calls us to do.
Its time get out of the caboose and sit up front with the Chief Engineer.
You want to know something amazing? One of my greatest weakness as a child was spelling words. And now that is what God has called me to do today…write…with words.
I stand with Paul who embraced his weaknesses: “But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).
That’s what happens when we allow God to fill in our blanks. He turns what we perceive as our greatest weakness into our greatest strengths.
What is God calling you to do today? In what areas do you feel that you’re not enough? Oh friend, because of Jesus Christ’s finished work on the cross, and His power in you, you are more than enough to do all that God calls you do to! Don’t forget it.
Heavenly Father, so many times I feel like I’m just not good enough, smart enough, wise enough… just not enough, period. Help me stop focusing on my self-perceived inadequacies and start focusing on Your all-sufficient supply. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
What is God telling you about your true abilities through today’s devotion? Leave a comment and let’s share.
Digging Deeper
Studying the life of Moses was one of the things God used to help me step away from my mountain of insecurities to embrace the power and confidence to do all He had planned for me and placed in me. I want that for you too.
If you’re ready to leave those feelings of inferiority, insecurity and inadequacy behind and take hold of the power, purpose, and promises that God has for you, Take Hold of the Faith You Long For will help you get there!
Here’s another idea! Gather a group of friends and read this book together. It has a study guide in the back that is perfect for groups!
Have you heard about my Praying Moms Club and Praying Wives Club? Click on the link and check them out!
