Have you ever felt like you’re not enough? My hand’s raised.
Maybe the less-than feeling stems from a relationship, job, competition, role, life dream, comparison, our own inner critic, perfectionism, or other.
And the enemy of our soul is often behind our negative self-talk and the world’s expectations that lead to I’m-not-enough thoughts.
The enemy will even use other people to drive the point home in our hearts.
But—and this “but” may surprise you—the phrase You are enough circulating on social media and in articles and podcasts and so on, gives us the idea that we are enough in and of ourselves.
While I really do understand the sentiments behind the popular statement; friends, it’s simply not true. I am not enough in myself. Jesus is enough.
Because Jesus is enough, it gives us a complete identity in Him. We no longer need to concern ourselves with what the world or people say is enough.
Also, we quit comparing ourselves to anyone else. It’s so freeing to know who I am in Christ and letting go of comparison. I’m thankful God doesn’t create cookie-cutter people.
So let’s look at how Jesus is E.N.O.U.G.H. and how it helps us see ourselves in the correct light.
Jesus Is Enough
E – Endured the Cross. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)
Jesus endured the cross so we didn’t have to.
N – Nailed sin and condemnation to the cross. “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV)
O – Obtained grace. “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2 (ESV)
United and Healed
U – United us to Himself. This brought us near to God. “But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13 (NLT)
G – Guaranteed our spiritual inheritance. Ephesians 1 speaks about our spiritual blessings in Christ. “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:13-14 (ESV)
And Jesus became “the guarantor of a better covenant.” (Hebrews 7:22, ESV)
H – Healed us by His wounds. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
I Don’t Need to Be Enough
I don’t need to be enough when I have Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord. He lives in me and reigns in my heart. Jesus is enough. And that’s enough.
So the next time you see the phrase “You are enough”, quietly remind your heart of the truth. And rest securely in Jesus’ sufficient and ample nature you have access to through the accomplished work on the cross.
Featured image courtesy of Adobe Express.
