Not Good Enough

"You are not good enough."

"Why are you doing that? I am disappointed in you!"

"You are not good enough."

"You are not what I want...there is someone better."

"You are not good enough."

"You are a disgrace and an embarrassment to me."

"You are not good enough."

"You should act this way instead..."

"You are not good enough."

"Why are you wearing that?!"

"You are not good enough."

This simple phrase "you are not good enough" is one of the biggest lies that Satan uses against us. The lie stems back to beginning of creation--in the Garden of Eden. When Eve was tempted by the serpent to eat the forbidden fruit, it was not that the fruit itself tempted her, it was the lies of "God is holding something back from you! You are not good enough for God..." that satan whispered in her ear. Eve craved acceptance, she needed to be good enough and so the lie crept in. We tend to believe that we are not good enough and we allow others to feed into this insecurity through words that are said. There is a misconception that being "good" is synonymous with "perfect". When living up to this expectation of perfection we are held captive to living life in a specific manner that is acceptable and pleasing to the world we live in. If you do not act or behave in a manner that is socially acceptable we are deemed "not good enough". If our actions, thoughts and composure are not culturally the norm we are considered "not good enough". This causes us to live in a constant state of insecurities which overtime has caused dirt, grim and rust to build up around our hearts. As our hearts have become used, bruised and abused we have become numb to the unending, perfect love that Christ gives us daily. We have tricked our minds into being satisfied with what the world offers over the freedom found in Christ. However, when looking into the heart there is brokenness, bitterness, destruction, doubtfulness, pain, anger, hatred and even numbness that has caused an impenetrable wall of sin, condemnation and slavery. As a slave to sin, we do what the sinful nature desires over the spiritual desires (Romans 7-8). The problem with this wall is it makes it difficult for love to come in and offer healing and hope. It makes communication with God difficult because of the unwillingness to open our hearts. We allow pain to cause us to live as a prisoner while neglecting the freedom given in Christ. As a victim myself of the "not good enough" voices that run through my head on a daily basis, I have learned that I am not made good by my actions, thoughts and words, I am made good through the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. I am a sinner who is set free from the bondage of sin not because of what I have done but because of what He did for me on the Cross. Jesus decided with every drop of blood, every scar and every nail that pierced through His hands that we were worth it. He chose to take the burden of the Cross so that we could have freedom from the "not good enough". Yet, we still refuse to accept the grace given to us each day. It makes me think of someone drowning and someone else consistently trying to offer them a flotation device. Since you are drowning, the only option to survive is to grab hold of what is being offered. Yet, you choose to drown instead of accepting salvation from the waters. In the same way, we reject the Truths of God and exchange them for the lies of the enemy which keeps us stuck in the "not good enough". When you choose to live life upon the waters, you realize that the waters will not always be smooth. The rains and winds will come and waves will come crashing in. But if you have Jesus, no matter where He puts you in your season, you have peace. If Jesus is in the storm, thats where your greatest peace will be. My challenge for you is to accept the truth that without Christ no one is good, not one person. But we are made good because of what He has done for us. To those of you who feel you are not good enough, whatever the reason may be, please realize that you are more. You are beautiful. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are victorious. You are a world changer. Seasons do not last forever and the sun will shine again. The birds will sing, the flowers will grow and your broken heart will feel again. Until next time, live loved, be beautiful, sing at the top of your lungs and realize every day is a blessing.