All day long I am bombarded with others’ ideas of perfection. TV, magazines, and social media all tell us that I am not enough. I need to keep working harder, doing more, so that maybe one day I can achieve perfection. And the chatter turns inward. When will I finally lose weight? When will I say the right thing? When will I get my house organized? When will I finally be successful? When will I be enough?
We would cry injustice for someone speaking to others the way we so often speak to ourselves, but we can look in the mirror and see every flaw. The voices in our heads can lead us to feel defeated before the day has even begun.
But, when we look to God, everything changes. God doesn’t look at us the way we look at ourselves. He’s not there saying, “Look, you just messed up again.” Instead, He says, “You are my child. You are already enough.” In God’s Word we can find these truths:
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:13-14 a
We were artfully crafted by God. Magazines can tell us about makeup and fashion, but they cannot compare to the unique fingerprints of God that cover us. He is the ultimate artist, and we were thoughtfully formed by Him. When we look in the mirror and are tempted to think otherwise, remember God intentionally formed you and you are His prized work of art.
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
God isn’t waiting for us to mess up. He has big dreams for us, and He is so excited to see us reach those dreams. He wants us to have hope in Him, and His dreams for us are so much greater than we could ever imagine. We get bogged down by the moments, but He has the whole plan.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” John 3:16-17
God rescued us from our imperfections. This came at such a great cost, and the only payment that would suffice is the very life of Jesus, but we were so valued, He could do nothing else. His love for us is so great that He had to redeem us. We should live as ones who have been redeemed at great cost and not as ones whose failures have rendered us as less than enough.
These verses tell us we were artfully crafted by God, created for a purpose, and valued at the greatest price God could pay…Himself. We are enough because God has made us so.
What should our response be: We need to love ourselves as much as God loves us.
We need to review what we tell ourselves through the lens of Scripture and throw out what doesn’t align. We should be kinder and gentler with ourselves. We must be our own best friend, cheering ourselves on rather than tearing ourselves down.
I think of my nine-year-old stepdaughter, and I don’t want her to mentally abuse herself because she feels inadequate. I need to teach her that she is God’s creation and is so incredibly loved, but that starts with me. If she hears me complain of my flaws, I am undermining the message that she is enough because she is created by God. I must teach her a different standard.
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
When feelings of inadequacy come, cling to the hope and love of Christ rather than aiming to work harder, do more, and become enough on your own. Looking to God, know you are already enough and are free to pursue the life God has planned for you.
Jessica Young (@youngrubbish) says
I liked the “we are crafted for a purpose” point. That is such an important thing to remember in our daily lives.
Gina says
I love the verses you chose to highlight this point. Having children has really helped me understand how much God loves us and have more grace for myself. I love my kids more than I can describe, and He loves us even more than that.
Aditi Kaushiva says
Great post! We need to keep reminding ourselves that we are beautiful just the way we are!
angelabrowerhobbs says
Hi Stephanie! You’re singing my song beautifully! We are God’s masterpiece and even while we fall short, he loves us. In two weeks, I have a post coming out called “not good enough.” Funny, huh? I can’t wait to poke around your site more!
Stephanie Adele says
Thanks for stopping by! I’ll have to check out your post. I think it is such an important message women especially need to hear.
Aimee says
Angela, I thought of your post on perfection as I read this:) Stephanie, I love that you chose this post to share; it clearly expresses God’s unfailing love and ultimate plan- of salvation- to all who will simply put their trust in Him. Blessings to you, and your stepdaughter:)
rosadoodle says
Thank you for this post. We all need to remember who we really are inside, not outside. Sometimes especially in this fast electronic world with constant bombardment, it’s difficult to remember this important message. Thanks for sharing it!!!
The Results Guy says
As Louie Giglio puts it, “We are priced by majesty”. It is very true, but sometimes hard to get that in ones heart. Thank you for the inspiration.
Stephanie Adele says
Such a great quote, thank you for sharing!
onemoretimeevents says
What a wonderful post.. I really enjoyed reading this and the message it sends… Thank you for sharing
Estrella says
Lovely reflection. There is so much pressure to look perfect, have the perfect car and the perfect job, but people should work at being better people and kinder to each other.
Sarah@TheOrthodoxMama says
Beautiful reflection–we do need to be kind to ourselves. I think, however, we also need to realize that we have sin in our lives that needs to be changed. As we strive to follow Jesus Christ, we cannot allow ourselves to grow complacent or accepting of our sinful habits. Of course, most of the things that you mentioned (weight, organization, etc.) most likely wouldn’t fall under sinful habits. However, I think that we should always be on guard “against the sin that so easily entangles.” Thanks for the thought-provoking post!
Stephanie Adele says
I absolutely agree that we cannot ignore our sins. Holley Gerth addressed this same topic in an article in Today’s Christian Woman (http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/articles/2014/february/you-are-enough.html) and she better addresses our sinfulness in light of being enough only because of God and the work of Christ. Thanks for stopping by!
Pierced Wonderings says
What a truly important post! Our world tells us that we are not enough, and the bombardment begins early and almost without thought. To remember that we are perfect as we are gets to be incredibly difficult. Thanks for the reminder that we are enough.
swood97 says
Praise God for self acceptance which leads to happiness! Very well stated.
As parents, it is up to us to steer our children away from the bombardment of media projecting those unreachable images.
I Peter 2:9 says we are a royal priesthood….that’s a good verse to teach to our children.
Stephanie Adele says
Such a great verse! Thanks for stopping by!
Cole says
Great post!
Melody Maynard says
This is very encouraging, and I couldn’t agree more! Sometimes stepping back from the hustle and bustle of life helps with feelings of inadequacy as well. Rushing around all the time can create strong feelings of not being enough. I love your website!
Marie says
These are such great reminders! I love the song “Furious Love” because it is about this exact thing. And who are we to question what God has made? To doubt ourselves is to question His devine design.
Stephanie Adele says
I don’t think I’ve heard that song, but I will definitely check it out! Thanks for stopping by!
Monique Muro (@MoniqueMuro) says
I love knowing I am already enough. It’s so easy to let these ideas of perfection creep in, and they can creep in in the simplest of ways, too! In our interactions with people, and in our day-to-day routines. Thank you so much for the loving reminders in this post! I couldn’t do anything, or be anyone, without God. Impossible. 🙂
A. Blake says
I am praying for peace for you and your family. Enjoy a wonderful weekend.
Rena McDaniel says
Such a beautiful, heartfelt post. It is hard to go through life and not feel beaten down by the constant barrage of images and voice flying around. I hope somebody that really needs to hear this finds this page because I feel like it could definitely make a huge difference to them. Have a great weekend.
Vasantha Vivek says
“You are my child. You are already enough.” Such a loving motivational phrase. It’s self explanatory.Hereafter I will repeat this as mantra when I am down. Thanks for making us realize God once again by your words and lovely wallpapers.
Ciara says
I’ll keep you and your daughter in my prayers. We all need this reminder.
Helen says
Just lovely, a really great reminder that we have everything we need when we have God. Thank you so much for this.
Margo says
“If she hears me complain of my flaws, I am undermining the message that she is enough because she is created by God.” You are such a wise mother. So often we forget that our actions speak so much louder than our words. Yes, you ARE enough, and by expressing gratitude for who you are each day, those feelings of being inadequate begin to melt away. Best to you!
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy says
We are all enough! I strive to teach my children this everyday. In world that tries to tell us we have to be so many things, I just want to keep in mind that God has already made them as they should be.
Anne Campbell says
These are wonderful words of encouragement. We all need to allow ourselves to experience grace instead of thinking we aren’t living up to a worldly standard.
Beth Green ~ A Disney Mom's Thoughts says
This is beautiful! Something we all need to see and read daily- especially these younger girls (teens and young adults) who feel they never measure up with others, society, celebrities, etc.
tara8910 says
This is a beautiful message stated in a beautiful and simple way. I love the Bible verses you included too. Great job!
Melanie says
Great reminders. It is so easy for us to fall in the trap of self abuse. He made us who we are at every moment of our existence, so even when we feel like we are not enough we need only to remember that He is still making us.
Dawn says
What a great reminder and what a difference it can make taking it back to loving ourselves as much as God loves us.
Stephanie (@CMTSBlog) says
As someone who suffered from negative body image and perfectionism, this post really touched me. God truly is the ultimate artist! Thank you for sharing your heart.
Kelly Canfield says
Such an important truth not to fall into “Try Harder” living! (THE CURE FOR THE PERFECT LIFE, by Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory). Thanks for the great reminder that we are already loved, designed, and accepted. I need those reminders!!! 🙂
Jamie says
Such a wonderful reminder and one I have been needing lately! It seems I have grown more insecure with age and I know better! I know the One who holds me in His hand!
charmedmom says
Thank you for this wonderful reminder. We always try to please somebody else or compared ourselves to others which result to being insecure about everything about ourseleves. While the bottomline is that we don’t need to impress someone or please them, We should be concerned if God is happy with what we do, and if He is then we’re good.
He’s the father who will never judge us, and will take us not according to what we have done but according to His love for us…
Kristin @ Biblical Wives Book Club says
This is such a beautiful message and it’s something that I need to remind myself of often. Thank you so much for sharing such an encouraging message!
LizZ H. says
THis next generation lives in an age we only dreamed of… but we never thought of the implications of it..How do you teach someone they are more than enough, when everyone else is telling them they aren’t.
thecrunchymommy says
thank you and this is beautiful. i think it’s great that in a world where we’re constantly told that we aren’t enough that you are sharing a different message. this is what needs to be spread!
Camesha | Mama Motivator says
Isn’t that a beautiful thing to know that we are already enough just the way you are? God is awesome.
Debbie @ Traveling Well For Less says
Lovely post, Stephanie. And great reminder that He created us as He envisioned us. Not how we envision ourselves.
We have to remind ourselves that we aren’t of this world and keep our sights on Him.