The world shouts you are not enough. The voices fill your head with: unworthy, unloved, and unable. Inside your head competing voices vie for the top position, shouting louder and stronger to draw your attention to them. Your shoulders round and insides crumble each time the picture painted before you looks nothing like you. But the world paints lies with just enough detail to resemble your outline and you visibly shrink against the portrait wishing for so much more.
Everyday we take false impressions and words that others speak about us to heart as if the only truth comes from these sources. I grew up in a home with two parents who loved me and four brothers who looked out for me. I loved this snapshot of my life because joy reigned and goodness surrounded me. But many times that stops as we grow older and enter into other environments such as school.
When I was about ten years old, I remember recess being a time of competition especially in the area of running. Boys and girls raced against each other and I loved this because many times I won. As I reached middle school age, the friendly competition ended and clusters of girls and boys huddled together in separate groups. Giggling ensued as well as conversations of who liked who took place. The shift was palpable and as hard as I tried to fit in, I sensed that things had changed. My identity shifted from secure and confident to questioning what I needed to do to fit in.
Seeking the truth from God leads to His “I am” for our lives and that always speaks louder.
[Tweet “Your identity in Christ counteracts the voices of the world with the truth of His Word. “]
God’s “I am” is always stronger than our social media feeds. God’s truth supersedes all other “truth.”
His truth tells us…
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
When the world threatens to shake the belief of who you are, God steps in and refutes every lie. His truth counteracts the “you are” and in its place we hear God’s “I am” of truth.
The world says your beauty is based on your outward appearance. God says I am beauty and you are beautiful when you hold my truth in your heart.
When you hear you are unworthy, God says I am your worth because I created you in my likeness. You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
If you believe you are unloved, God says I am love. He reflects His love to us and He makes us known.
You may also hear you are not enough. God reminds us He is enough and in Him we are everything.
You know you are loved, worthy, and enough when you allow God’s truth to speak louder than any competing voices. Rest in the truth that God sees you as the beautiful person He created. His story for you is not a mistake and His love for you is as far and wide as the ocean stretching across the horizon of your mind.
May you know who you are and whose you are.
Walking in the grace of knowing I belong to God!
Today is the fifth day of the Chosen and Approved series that Jeanne Takenaka, Emily Conrad and I are writing with all of you in mind. The lesson I hear over and over is that to know ourselves is to know God. He is our identity and He is enough. To catch up on the whole series, click here. Join us next week for the last part of the series.
Linking today with:
and Dawn for Grace Moments
Beautiful words of assurance, my friend! With God, we don’t have to worry about ‘enoughness’–because HE is.
Amen! We are truly found and known in Christ. It is a lesson I have heard before and will need to have repeated in the future, but one that God patiently reminds me of when I need it. Thank you for joining me here today.
I needed this little visit with you tonight, friend.
Really, truly.
You have brought encouragement to my soul after a very long day.
Appreciate you …
God loves to give us just what we need. Thank you for blessing me by stopping by. Sending you love!
Great reminder, Mary.
This is what my book “Worthy” endeavors to address from several angles, Mary. It’s interesting that you would write these words as I am feverishly trying to finish my proposal. I’ve gotten delayed a bit by my shingles which has lingered like an unwanted guest for far too long! I will say that today was a pretty good day, considering how painful most days have been for me for the past 6 weeks! Thanks so much for being a place for inspiring and biblical truth, my friend! Hugs to you!
Yes, yes, yes! Identity is something I’ve been really leaning into lately. I love it when God places the same thing on my heart as He does on the hearts of others.
So much THIS: “God’s “I am” is always stronger than our social media feeds. God’s truth supersedes all other “truth.””
Oh Mary, thank you so much. I needed this encouragement that we are worthy and enough in Christ Jesus. Actually, I need it every day as I’m so forgetful. This especially moved me – “His story for you is not a mistake and His love for you is as far and wide as the ocean stretching across the horizon of your mind.” Blessings and hugs to you!
A beautiful way to spend my early minutes today, with His words posted through you! Thank you. When we have those moments knowing we are completely enough in Him, through Him, and with Him, there is a peace that no worldly item can give. It really is a gift, this Love!
When the ground shifts underneath my feet, I know that I’ve let the foundation of my identity slide to something unsteady and untrustworthy. Thanks, Mary, for words that lend strength and truth to my wayward heart.
Mary, this looks like a wonderful series. I know what you mean about moving from a place of security to wondering what you have to do and you have to be to fit in. These “I am” statements are beautiful.
Thank you Betsy! Sometimes we put more pressure on ourselves in certain situations than is needed. We conjure up that we don’t fit into a group when really we just need to be ourselves and we will be fine. If we didn’t always hear the world telling us we are not enough, we would be so much better off, wouldn’t we??? Thank you for your kind words! Blessings Betsy!
One of the hardest things I have to do, and to do daily, is face the truth that my life has largely been a failure. God’s plan was not a mistake, but I made too many mistakes along the way.
And harder still is not to let my shoulders round and my insides crumble, because each moment still presents the chance to do something good. It won’t erase the overall picture – there’s neither the time nor the energy in me to do that – but each moment has to be treated with respect and care for its own sake.
Andrew, I love the way you show up on-line and bless us with your comments, From my vantage point, far away as it is, your life is a lot more than failure, which we’ve all known ourselves. God redeems all.
God’s beautiful redemptions stories in all of our lives are a gift. Andrew-your story is a gift to me.
You are right that God’s plan was not a mistake. God’s story for you is beautiful and enough. When you start to feel overwhelmed by where you have been, remember God values you for who you are and His love is enough. I pray you continue to treat each moment with respect and care for yourself. You are worth it.