POST 19: You Are Enough Because of Jesus
POST 19
You Are Enough Because of Jesus
I am not enough.
We’ve all thought these words at one point or another. Sometimes we don’t feel smart enough . . . or pretty enough . . . or funny enough . . . or popular enough.
Sometimes you look in the mirror and your not-enough-ness is so overwhelming that tears sting your eyes and your heart sinks to the pit of your stomach. When you feel like you’re not enough, you begin to question everything—your capacity, your intellect, your worth.
Think about the area where you feel not enough. Something that makes you feel unqualified or not good enough. What emotions does it stir up? Shame? Embarrassment?
In 2 Corinthians 12, one of Paul’s letters written to an early church, he writes that Jesus spoke to him about his weakness and said something profound: “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9).
Wait, what does that say about weakness again? That’s right, God’s power is made perfect in it. But how can that be? And what exactly does that mean?
Remember the story of Moses? Exodus 3 tells of his encounter with God through a burning bush. God called Moses to a big job: freeing the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt. Picture the scene: Moses talking to a burning bush, probably kind of freaking out about the entire situation, and then he’s told to walk up to Pharaoh and say, “Let my people go.” Just like that. Imagine the look of shock on Moses’ face as he thought, Who, me?!
The thing is, Moses was not very good at speaking; he likely had a speech impediment. Yet, God was calling him to go to the pharaoh and demand the Israelites’ freedom.
Moses questions God’s decision to send him on this mission. Surely, there was someone younger, stronger, and more charismatic for the job. But that’s not what God was looking for. God wanted Moses—in all his weakness. When Moses asks for some authority and assurance, God doesn’t give him a pep talk. Instead, God says he will be with him: “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (v. 14 NIV).
God Meets Us in Our Weakness
It was never about Moses’ power but God’s. We will struggle with weakness, but God’s strength is inexhaustible. We will never be enough on our own, but God—the great “I AM”—is always enough. When we let go of our feelings of inadequacy and take hold of the power God works in and through us, everything changes. God is enough on our behalf.
Moses didn’t have to be the best speaker or the strongest warrior. He simply had to say yes to God’s power, active even in Moses’ own weakness. God worked miracles through Moses because he said yes.
Think again about your weaknesses. How can you trust God’s strength to fill in for your weaknesses? How can you let go of any shame or embarrassment you feel so that you can be honest about your inconsistencies and depend on God to be your enough?
Once you begin to reframe your thinking about your weaknesses, you will begin to see how God makes them enough.
[Jesus] said to me, “My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.” So I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
[Jesus’] divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)
REFLECT AND RESPOND
Journaling Questions
Why do you think God chose Moses to free the Israelites? How can you relate to the story of Moses?
In what areas of your life do you feel like you’re not enough?
What steps can you take this week to embrace your weaknesses and allow God’s strength to be enough?
God, so often I feel like I’m not enough, but the good news is that I don’t have to be. Jesus came to earth, lived a human life, died, and conquered evil and even death so that I could have new life. Jesus is my enough, and I don’t have to hide my weaknesses anymore. Instead, I can be honest and embrace them as your power works in and through me. Thank you for being my enough. In Jesus’ name, amen.
SOMETHING TO TRY
Take the words from 2 Corinthians 12:9 and insert your name: God’s grace is enough for __________, because power is made perfect in weakness. Write this phrase on a Post-it note and put it somewhere you will see it daily—your bathroom mirror, bedroom door, or inside your Bible. Each time you read it, thank God, whose power is made perfect in your weakness.
THE TAKEAWAY
Your weaknesses can become an opportunity for God to work powerfully in and through you—to be enough and to make you enough.