There has been a trend in recent years to put uplifting sayings on journals, shirts, mugs, basically anything. I’m sure you’ve seen them…
Believe you can and you will
She believed she could so she did
Dream high
Keep calm and {insert anything here}
Ask me after my coffee….
While these aren’t bad, there is one that always bothers me. I usually see it in reference to women who are longing for a husband or a better job, seeking affirmation from peers, deep in discouragement, etc. But it simply is “I am Enough” or “You are Enough.”
Think about that for a minute. You are wearing a shirt {or drinking from a mug} that states you are all you need.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to ride the “You are enough” train but it’s discouraging! Give me one hour of trying to parent in my own strength, wisdom, patience, and you will see how this statement in practice doesn’t work. We are not enough by ourselves. We will fail again and again and hurt those around us when we live with this mantra.
In my mind there is really no way to defend this sentiment biblically. In fact, we read Paul in Philippians 3 reminding people of his credentials of “being enough” according to the Jews yet it meaning nothing for salvation. Here’s how Paul sums it up in Philippians 3:7-8a “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
Paul counted nothing that he had done as gain for Christ. The well-known passage in II Corinthians 12 tells us that Paul had something he asked God to take from him — perhaps a speech problem or a physical ailment — but God denied him. “‘But he {God} said to me {Paul}, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” {II Cor. 12:9}
Paul saw he was far from enough on his own. Salvation, wisdom, strength, discernment. We need to rely on God. We need to humbly say, “I am Not Enough!”
Part of the struggle we have with finding true rest is the belief that we have to be doing. If we are enough, then everything goes — or falls — because of us. If we stop, if we rest, if we look to someone else, we will cease being enough. And for some, that is frightening. But is should be a relief! To not carry the weight of life ourselves but to turn it over to God because we know we aren’t enough to save ourselves!
Our culture is self-seeking, self-promoting, independent. While working and knowing how to care for ourselves is not bad, we need to be careful to not become so independent we turn from God. We must acknowledge that we are not enough, for this life or the next.
Photo by Lili Popper on Unsplash