I’m sure we all remember being kids once, desperately plucking petals off a daisy and wondering if that special someone loves you or loves you not, daydreaming if you are enough to deserve their attention. Now as adults, have you ever wondered why we as a society struggle to “be enough” or “have enough” for ourselves?
Some may think in order to “be enough” on the inside there are particular things one must achieve on the outside. Often times we measure “being enough” by external factors and determine our self-worth by material things. Kids and teenagers often show this by begging parents for name brand clothing and electronic gadgets to look “cool” at school. Maybe you’ve noticed that one family in your neighborhood who loves to showcase their lavish family vacations by flaunting their boat in the driveway. I’m sure we can all think of folks who are on a quest to appear to “be enough.” Those folks might even be us (insert gasp)!
We measure “being enough” in all the incorrect and self-debilitating ways. “Enough” cannot be measured and is not achieved by external things. If we tried, we would miss the mark every time, as we so often already do. It is simply about love and truth. Our society over-identifies with the external aspects of our lives – where we live, how we look, where we attend school, our finances, our achievements, and much, much more! What would it be like if we could all just stop and take a moment to reconsider how our lives could be if we truly treated ourselves the way we deserve to be treated on the inside? We tell our friends and family that we love them and that they are special, capable, smart, beautiful and strong. However, do we speak the same about ourselves?
Our efforts might result in many believing that we require praise and recognition for our focus on externals. However, the one and only name that deserves ALL the praise and recognition is – JESUS! It is by Him and through Him that we are enough. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Psalm 139:14 says, “We are fearfully and wonderfully made.” The commonality is that these things are done to us and for us by God – not anything to do with what we’ve earned on our own. Our worth is given to us by God.
In case you haven’t caught on yet – the belief that “being enough” is contingent upon our outward appearance and material things is 100% FALSE. Yes, I said it – and here’s why: We are enough solely by being who God created us to be. It is time to separate our self-worth from our performances. It doesn’t matter if you lose ten pounds to fit in “the” dress or if you get accepted into “that” university. It only matters if you believe that you are who God says you are.
Begin today by embracing the freedom and truth that our worth – your worth – is inherent from conception. We as a people are of immeasurable value to Jesus because of the price He paid to make us worthy. Jesus died on the cross for you and me which should convey to us just how valuable we really are. Christ saturates us all with the love He has for us. Doesn’t that feel amazing to know that God surrounds us with His love and supplies it unconditionally?! Now with that being said: I choose “I love me” rather than “I love me not” – for who I am on the inside. Where does the last petal fall for you?