Thursday, January 24, 2013

You Are Good Enough

I'm sitting in a room full of people...a gala event in support of our troops. It's a Red, White and Blue Ball! If there is ever a place I should feel as though I belong (I'm an Army wife and  Navy mom for goodness sake), this should be the place. But those unwanted, but familiar, thoughts sneak their way into my mind. You're not pretty enough. You're not outgoing enough. You're not good enough.

Oh how feeling this way hurts.

When I find myself in this familiar place all I want to do is run. My eyes are on the door and my mind is focused on ways to escape. I look to my husband with those eyes that says, "Please take me home."

How did I get to this place of always feeling I'm not good enough? How do we all get to this place? How do we get out of this place?

I entered this gala event with a renewed confidence, but left feeling shattered.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..." John 10:10

He surely came and successfully killed and destroyed.

If these same thoughts occupy your mind, I wish I could be the one to walk up to you with a smiling face and embrace you with love. I wish I could say to you the words that begin replaying in my head that author Holley Gerth writes in her book, You're Already Amazing.

"You're not only amazing.
You're enough.
You're beautiful.
You're wanted.
You're chosen.
You're called.
You've got what it takes...not just to survive but to change the world."

There is more to the passage I shared above from John 10:10 and it's GOOD NEWS!

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Don't let that thief (Satan) steal your joy. Turn to the one who wants to give you life to the fullest.

I wish I could tell you that was exactly what I did the night of the gala, but I will always speak the truth here. And, the truth is I ran. You could not get me out of that room quick enough.

While I chose to run, I know God wanted to embrace me. His arms were open and waiting for me. I had a choice to either let Satan take residence in my mind, or to seek God. I wrestled with this choice for the next 24 hours, but during that time God was drawing me closer to Him.

You see, I was reminded of how only He can fill those empty places in my heart. I love how Mary DeMuth speaks to this in her book, Everything. (You must read this book!) "Trust that God is big enough to shoulder every single pain and burden and injury you've ever experienced. Surrender your heart, your life, your will to Him. Let Him have His healing way with you."

Seek God with all your heart my dear friends, and let Him heal you. Let His truth fill you.

And what is His truth? Remember those words from Psalm 139:14?

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - Psalm 139:14

His works ARE wonderful!

These words from Holley bring me comfort and remind me that the moment I gave my life to Christ I became so much more than enough. "We are chosen, cherished, created women who have all we need to fulfill God's plans for our lives. He has made us just as he wants us to be. We have something to offer that no one else can bring...and the world is waiting."

You are loved with an unfailing love. You are so much more than enough!



5 comments :

  1. Hi :) I just found your blog through Faith Messenger, and I just wanted to say: thank you for your honesty in posting this message! It's comforting to know that other people share the same struggles - and often have to remind themselves that God is strong enough to handle the burden of our fears/insecurities :) You ARE amazing :) ...looking fwd to reading more of your blog!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words! Many blessings to you.

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  2. I enjoyed reading this post! Am here via Emily's blog..am also a military spouse. My husband retired a few months ago after 22 years in the Navy. Thank you for sharing your heart.

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  3. oh Beth, this is so, so beautiful. thank you for your vulnerability and transparency.

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  4. Visiting from Emily's. Thank you for sharing these thoughts and encouraging others.

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