Chapter 6 Overview

When Doubt Whispers "I'm Not Good Enough"

"We've got to get our good enough from Jesus.  When we belong to Him, we're clothed in righteousness, forever beloved and accepted; a constant recipient of His steadfast love and grace."  Gary Morland

What a power packed chapter!  Renee started the chapter talking about those feelings of insecurity we all face and how we feel we have to hide them away.  If we share our weakness others will see our faults and agree with us and since we're the only one who's ever felt that way...

She then tells a story - we all have one - where we begin by feeling chosen but then are rejected.  In her case (and many times in my own), she also talks about when we give a second chance only to be rejected again.  Our biggest fears can often become our realities and then that shadow of doubt just grows.  She was lucky because she was at a point in her life where she had the promise of God's nearness and the fact that He chose her as His own to hold on to.  She says, "It wasn't until God was all I had that I realized He was all I needed."  Once we reach this point we can begin to find our identity and our value in who we are in Christ.

We all go through time where we believe that if we were more (thinner, stronger, smarter, etc.)  or if we had more of what the world puts importance on that we would be secure.  But the truth is, even those women we see as "having it all" still struggle with feeling they are not good enough.  She then tells the story of Eve, the first woman.  Eve was a woman who truly had it all.  However, Satan placed himself between Eve and the light of the Father and the first shadow of doubt was cast.  Satan's questions and suggestions implied that there was something wrong or something missing from Eve.  He talked until she began to see it too and then because her fall as she struggled to have it all.  "Satan had a cunning plan to deceive God's children by convincing them to doubt God's character and disobey God's commands."  And his plan is still in place today. 

We make a huge mistake by constantly asking ourselves, "What's wrong with me?"  She commented on noticing one day how many times she does it, so I did the experiment on myself.  Sure enough, when we can't find our keys, are mean to someone we care for, when we're running late, when someone rejects us, when we fuss at our kids, when we forget something...the list goes on and on.  However, each time we ask, "what's wrong with me?" we are telling ourselves that something is wrong with us causing us to then look for the fault.  We need to change the way we talk to ourselves.  She then shows us the WHO I AM IN CHRIST chart so we can began to remind ourselves of who we are.

Satan tempted Jesus in the same way he did Eve, however, Jesus could stand the test because He trusted God's promises.  For every temptation Satan gave to Jesus, Jesus responded with God's promises from His word.  Finally Jesus responded with, "Away from me, Satan!  For it is written: 'Worship the Lord you God, and serve Him only.'"  Then Satan left Him and angels came and attended to Him. (Matthew 4)  "Doubting God's promises makes it hard to trust God's heart."

She talks about getting our "good enough" from Jesus.  We need to stop beating ourselves up and start building ourselves.  We to move away from AM (against me) thoughts and move toward FM (for me) thoughts.  We can often be our own worst critics, so we need to begin by going to God's word and building ourselves up from there. 


Praying God's Promises
Lord, thank You that in Christ I'm chosen, holy, and dearly loved.  I love knowing I an a crown of splendor in my Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of my God.  Whenever someone rejects me, heal my hurting heart with the promise that You will never leave me or forsake me.  When I'm tempted to find my significance and security apart from Your provision and promises, help me resist Satan's lies and temptations and stand firm in my faith.  When insecurity threatens to take me captive, I will remember that Christ set me free, and not allow myself to be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Holy Spirit, remind me every day that such confidence as this is mine through Christ - not that I am competent in myself to claim anything for myself, but competence come from Him.  I have been given fullness in Christ, who is the Head over every power and authority.  I choose to believe His goodness makes me good enough!  In Jesus' powerful name I pray, Amen.