The theme of today seemed to be “enough”.  I think we ran the gamut of how the word was used too.

It started with the frustration side.  Heard one man say, “I’ve had enough of this whole divorce thing, so yeah I’m pretty bummed.”  I heard one mom say, “I’ve just had enough of that kid tattling to me about my kid all the time.”  I heard a co-worker say, “I’ve had about enough of people asking the very question that I just answered for them.”  “It’s getting harder for us to see the standard when all of the ‘wrong’ in the world is becoming the ‘normal’.  I’ve about had enough of us not sticking to the standard that Jesus set.”  I shared in her sentiments as a really good friend of mine said, “I’m so tired of trying to live up to the expectations of others.  I know their intentions are good, but I’ve had enough of people telling me what my plan should be instead of asking me what I’m up to these days.”

Somewhere in the day, we migrated to not feeling like enough.  I heard or even said the traditional: “I’m not thin enough.”  “He’s not smart enough.”  “I’m not young enough.” “He’s not tough enough.”  “We’re not pompous enough for them, but do we want to be?  No.”   “I don’t think I’m old enough for that.”  “I’m not pretty enough.”  “I don’t think he sees me like that, maybe I’m just not enough for him.”  “I’m not tan enough to pull that off.”  “No, we’d never work out.  I don’t want enough of the American Dream for her.”

I know that it hasn’t been that long since I both admitted and announced that I’m not perfect, but that feeling of not being “enough” or seeing someone else as not “enough” is running rampant amongst the people that I know and love, as well as those that I’m just passing by.  Speaking of “enough”… I’m definitely there with people feeling that way.

Satan has a firm grip on our insecurities and he’s chipping away at our hearts through them.  Why do we continue to give him that power?  I’m just as guilty.  It’s not unusual for me to be lying in my bed at night and find myself overwhelmed with the feeling that I’m not good enough for something or even someone.  I play that comparison game of “they would be better at it than I am” or “he probably thinks I’m too _____” or “maybe I’m not ______ enough for him”.  What is it about us that causes us to want to live up to someone else’s standards?  What is it about us that wants to be liked so much, as if that’s the model Jesus gave?

I’m learning that it’s more than just me not listening to Satan whisper lies in my own life.  It’s standing guard for others as well.  It’s saying and showing to my neighbor, “I’ve had enough of people telling you that you’re not good enough or like them enough.”  Jesus set the standard for that by pointing to His Father through loving His neighbor.  For us to do anything less than that– is not okay!  Tenth Avenue North sums it up in their song “You Are More”:

“Cause this is not about what you’ve done,
But what’s been done for you.
This is not about where you’ve been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you’ve made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You’ve been remade.”  (You Are More)

I long for the day when that’s the only message that comes out of my lips and through my lifestyle.  I’m determined that’s soon!  Pray I get there…