You are enough

I was picking through junk at a garage sale when I found a sign with these words on it. The message seemed to make sense, and I thought it would keep me motivated, so I took the sign home and hung it on my wall. I would look at my sign every day, and know that I was enough, and everything would be okay.

Over the years, there were many days I was tempted to change the words. I didn’t feel like enough. Questions took over, and answers didn’t seem to come. Were the words on that sign telling me a big lie? One day, I sat on my little chair in my prayer closet, wiping tears and telling God that I didn’t believe the sign. I didn’t feel like enough. My heart heard the words. “You are right, Lisa. You are not enough. But I am.”

As I replaced you with Him, my questions took a turn. What if I let God be enough? What if He became the You and the sign became my prayer instead? I whispered, “God, please be enough for me. You are enough for today, this week, this year, and for the rest of my life. It’s about depending on you, and not on myself.”

The world tells us to look to ourselves for empowerment. Everywhere around me are catchy slogans, bumper stickers, sound bites—and many of these are good for us to hear. But apart from God, the attempt to be “enough” often leaves us feeling “less than.”

Once, at a national dog obedience competition, a lady told me I shouldn’t be there. I would NQ (not qualify) with my dog because I wasn’t taking it seriously. Guilty as charged. I did a joy jump in the ring when my dog and I finished the rally course. I had prayed hard to get through it, and I was celebrating. Apparently, this is not the best protocol at dog competitions. She was right that I didn’t look like someone who was serious, but she also didn’t know how hard I had prayed and how God helped me battle my fears. It was a big step to walk into that ring, but I knew He was enough. I didn’t have to be a big winner for God to love me or delight in me. He wasn’t keeping score. It made the moment even sweeter when we finished the course.

A few months ago, I found myself back in that dog ring with Mabel Joy. God once again reminded me I am enough, and whatever happened, it was all okay. Mabel Joy and I finished the course and received a rally title (and yes, I did a joy jump). Only God could have made that happen. I wasn’t enough, but He is.

I replaced the sign recently with one that says, Jesus is enough. When I start to feel weak, I remember that dog ring, and the fears He has helped me overcome. When negative words are spoken over me, He reminds me I don’t need to listen. He has carried me through many days of pain, over the mountains and through the valleys. He is also enough for you. The same truth Paul proclaimed in 2 Corinthians 12:9 is true for all of us. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (ESV)

Remember Whose you are. Savor the moments He has given you and don’t worry about the NQs in life. Those moments when the world tells us that we don’t “qualify” will only make us stronger because we know the truth. The heartaches make wiser for the journey ahead. Through Him, you are always enough.