The year was 1977. I was a Freshman and through the season’s results I had qualified for the City Track Meet featuring the top performers in their event. My event was the 440 yard Dash, now known as the 400 Meter. The starter gave the command, runners took their marks and the gun sounded. We were off. I quickly made up the stagger and took the early lead, as I had done in most races before. I maintained the lead down the backstretch and out of turns 3 & 4. I could hear my schools fellow athletes cheering me on as I raced for the finish line. I crossed the line having run my personal best time and setting a new Freshman record for my school in the event.

I finished in fifth place!

My best was not good enough. It was a tough lesson.

Fast forward into my adult years as I navigated dating, marriage, parenthood, careers, business ownership, and even ministry-I found myself in many situations where I did not feel good enough. I tend to grade myself not so much on accomplishments as on failures or on things left undone. I would suspect many of us have been there at some point.

As believers in Christ we have an adversary who lives solely to trip us up by reminding us of our shortcomings so that we lose sight of our gifts and strengths. He knows which buttons to push to create self doubt which can lead to us questioning our worth, our purpose and even our standing with God. This is a process I’m all too familiar with. These are the times I’ve written about in the past where we have to filter out or take captive those negative thoughts and feelings and rely on the Word which never changes even when we do. Here are just a few of those verses to keep handy.

“You formed me in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I’m fearfully and wonderfully made”, Psalm 139

“Consider the ravens…yet God feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than birds.” Luke 12.

“For we are his work, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God planned beforehand”. Ephesians 2.

“ You were ransomed from futile ways …with the precious blood of Christ”. 1 Peter 1.

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us that we should be considered the Children of God”. 1 John 3.

We live in an age where we are bombarded with what the world calls good enough. Young girls are made to feel like they must be a certain weight and body type to be accepted. Men are led to believe only a six figure income and a certain car make is considered successful. Parents are only as good as their children turn out to be and on it goes. The trap is in falling for the world’s critique as opposed to our status in Christ. We know that in Christ nothing can separate us from His love or goodness or diminish our place in His purpose for us. We aren’t perfect and will never be. Our church motto is It’s Okay to Not be Okay. God doesn’t use perfect people. He uses obedient people and then makes them perfect for the task.

I am enough!

You are enough!

Your two fish and my five loaves are more than enough when surrendered for His purpose. More than that, God is enough and always will be.