“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 ESV

Sometimes I struggle while walking the line between “I’m enough” and “I’m not enough”. There’s a push in popular culture to empower ourselves to be the best we can be – I see it all the time as a teacher. Part of my job is to help students see and strive to reach their greatest potential. 

Without talking about God.

But I’ve come to the conclusion that I don’t agree with it, this striving we have to be our best selves by pulling up our boot straps and displaying an affirming mantra on our coffee mugs.

Because I am not enough.

I can try all day, every day, to be my best self and reach my greatest potential, but the striving will be in vain apart from God.

I am not enough. . . on my own

I am not enough. . . but I don’t need to be

I am not enough. . . but God is enough

Because He is my strength.

Scripture tells us that our strength will fail because of our iniquity (Psalm 31:10; Psalm 38:10), but God gives strength to His people (Psalm 68:35). 

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Psalm 73:26 ESV

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped.”

Psalm 28:8a ESV

As a teacher, I’m not enough – but God makes me patient and gracious. (And believe me, those traits don’t come from my strength. I would rather throw things.)

As a worship leader, I’m not enough – but the most authentic and worshipful services happen with I surrender and relinquish control, giving God room to move. Because it’s so easy to slip into the mindset of wanting everything to be perfect in order to prove my worth as a leader and a musician, but God doesn’t want perfection. He wants my heart.

So, maybe we should design our own coffee mugs: “I am enough because of God.”

Check out this song: “Nothing Without You”

Questions: How does walking in the goodness of God make you “enough”?

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 ESV