This week's word prompt?
Enough.
I'm experiencing a deja vu. I am certain that this was already the prompt recently, but I have looked and it's just not so.
What can this mean, other than I have been mediating on this very word and it's finally time to write my thoughts.
This has been a struggle for most of my life. The world tells us that we are not complete. That we lack something. That we are not enough.
It's clever, really. Because it is the truth to say that we are not complete. But the world offers us multiple ways to feel complete that do not satisfy that hole that only Jesus can fill.
The truth is, that our best is good enough for Him. He wants all we have to offer and THAT is enough.
Our strivings and righteous deeds don't add to our salvation, nor do our mistakes and sins take away from it. It is finished.
I must admit as I think about Easter coming up in one week, that I have spent most of my life trying to be good enough for God to love me. To be worthy of Jesus' sacrifice. It's exhausted me at times when I am in a puddle of tears looking at my failures.
I'm so hard on myself because how can a Holy God love such wretched beings as us?
And yet, the Bible promises us that "as far as the East is from the West, so far has he taken our sin from us." And "while we were yet sinners, Christ Jesus died for us." (Romans 5:8)
(Psalm 103:11-13, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;)
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;)
Is God's love enough for you? Will you believe that He has redeemed you?
Will you allow His redemption and grace to cover you so that you are no longer feeling guilty and ashamed, but you will rejoice in His promise to make His mercies new every morning??
Will you allow His redemption and grace to cover you so that you are no longer feeling guilty and ashamed, but you will rejoice in His promise to make His mercies new every morning??
-Tammy
(p.s. please leave me your linkup number or URL in the comments so I can find your post and return the blessing!)
Tammy, you and I have walked through some of the same struggles. That whole question of am I enough has dogged my steps for years. It's only been in the last number years that I've been able to answer that question with TRUTH. In God's eyes I am enough because of Jesus. I am enough because I am His creation. I am enough because He loves me. And that's enough, right? And yes, God's love is definitely more than enough. If we'll let it, it fills every empty cranny in our heart, our thoughts, our beings. He is so amazing!
ReplyDeleteGREAT post, friend!
Jeanne,
Deleteyou bless and encourage me so. I am beyond grateful that God is allowing us to have an in real life weekend this summer! :) Colorado girls just have that natural bond.
Thank you for your love and encouragement!
Love,
Tammy
Love this, Tammy, and the song is great.
ReplyDeleteI never really worried about being enough; I figured I wasn't, and that God didn't care. I'd reach as high as I could, and He'd bend down to fill the gap. No worries.
Clearly, I'm not a deep thinker. I drive Barbara crazy; she wants to talk about The Christian Life, and my stock answer is 'live like Jesus, so what?'
She says it's like talking physics with a cat.
B...she is so wise. I'll sit with her and chat deep stuff but she is smarter than me. #2020vision
DeleteAndrew,
DeleteI was always under the pressure of being good enough for God and winning His favor. It's what men teach when they want power over people and they're not really pursuing God first and have a flock to shepherd.
Thankfully, He has allowed me to start a journey of trusting Him. 2014 was a defining year for me where I hit rock bottom in my inability, and finally had my "Jesus take the wheel" moment as a parent and as a human.
Ha ha, you are more of a deep thinker than you admit to be and this week's post is proof.
I think you enjoy playing cat and mouse. ;)
Barbara though, I would LOVE to talk about the Christian life with her sometime!
Love,
Tammy
It is such a trap, isn't it? I definitely struggle with that feeling of not being enough as well... but you are so right - I will choose to focus on His love and acceptance instead.
ReplyDeleteEmma,
Deleteoh I want to hug you! :)
You are enough because Christ was enough. God sees you wrapped in the robe of righteousness and calls you daughter. The struggle is to remind us how we need Him, not to make us feel guilty for being inadequate without Him.
So grateful you are here!
Love,
Tammy
Tammy, I have missed you! Haven't had ENOUGH of you in my feeds. Love you girl and you ARE SO ENOUGH IN HIM BECAUSE HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH! #14 (I drove a long way to your #5 because I MISS YOU.) xoxoxoxoxo
ReplyDeleteHa Ha... yes, what she said! (Although I had a longer commute at the #36 spot) Thanks Susan for letting me carpool.
DeleteSusan,
DeleteI have missed being here. Full-time teaching has made life a lot busier and less time to write and comment. I have read posts each week and enjoyed reading the Twitter interactions after you've all gone to bed.
I am so glad you found time to drive all the way up to five. :) I feel so loved!!
Love,
Tammy
TAMMY!!! This right here... "the world offers us multiple ways to feel complete that do not satisfy that hole that only Jesus can fill". Girl!
ReplyDeleteTondra,
Deleteyou sweet blessing of mine! :D So so very good to hear from you and I'm thankful you drove all the way from 36 for humble me.
The world capitalizes on our discontent and our feelings of inadequacy, but no material thing (or supplement) will ever make us feel the same as Jesus. I may have a dress that makes me feel pretty good, but clothes rot and treasures spoil.
What I treasure most is my friends. You are a blessing and I am delighted to know I won't ever lose your friendship. In Heaven, I'll be able to see you whenever I want! :D
Love,
Tammy
God's love is enough. And because of that, you too are enough! Love you friend! I'm over in the 39 spot this week.
ReplyDeleteTara,
Deleteyou sweet friend, full of wisdom and love for others. :) You always remind me that I'm made in His image and that He delighted in me when He made me. Thank you.
Please please please be one of the 12...spots left. You just HAVE to come!
Love,
Tammy
I am so grateful for His compassion and your post. You hit on a universal struggle.
ReplyDeleteChristina,
Deleteso sorry that I missed your reply somehow. :) Thank you for your encouragement. I'm thankful that you share this struggle with me. Knowing we're not alone is what makes the FMF community so rich to me!
Love,
Tammy