I AM: Enough Week Four - Day Two

By Central Women

Ready ladies? I am going to get real and vulnerable with you today. But first, check out this verse that reminds us that we are enough:

“But by the grace of God I am what I am.”

1 Corinthians 15:10a

Pretty cool, right?

If I am who I am because of who He is, why do I try to add or subtract parts of me that God has already deposited in me to be uniquely different?

Most women would agree, if we could change things about ourselves, we would do it. Maybe it’s longer, lavish hair, or to lose 20-35 pounds. Maybe we wish that our nose was smaller, lips bigger. Maybe we wish we didn’t have a boisterous personality or on the other hand, maybe we wish we could find our voice and stand up for ourselves and others.

All in all, over the course of our lives, there have been things we hoped (or still hope) we could change about ourselves. Because we live in a broken world, this desire to change ourselves into something different exists.

But does it have to? Is there a way to be completely content with who God says we are, and what He has given us?

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:12-13

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

 Psalm 139:13-16

When will we see ourselves as enough, even with our perceived imperfections?

Remember when I told you we were about to get real and vulnerable today? Here we go…

Fifth grade was not my best year. That entire year of my life…not cute, not cute. Did I mention not cute? I was short, petite, had terrible acne and the biggest disappointment of all, flat-chested. That was the one thing that I could not stand about myself… no boobs. Yes, I know, I was in fifth grade! Girls around me were developing, and it seems like my body didn’t know I was late to the “womanhood” game.

I still remember this day vividly. I sat in the fourth row, thankfully my classmate who sat next to me was absent, so no one could see what I was about to do. That morning, I grabbed tissues from my mother’s bathroom. As I sat in class, I began to layer what I thought would enhance my “features.” The bell rang and we headed out for recess. Just when I thought I had everyone fooled, my friend called me out!

“Why did you stuff your bra with tissues?”

I was mortified. How could she do that to me? And in front of everyone! I didn’t realize it, but she had seen me stuff my bra in class.

Before I could deny her allegations, she asked me this profound question: “why don’t you like you for you?”

Funny how my best friend could already tell that I didn’t accept myself for who I was. In fifth grade, I was already wrestling with the idea of not being enough.

This question has been with me ever since. To tell you the truth, I am not even sure if I completely grasp it, even now.

What I do know is God accepts the way I look.

He accepts my good days and my bad days.

He accepts all of my insecurities all of my flaws.

He looks at me and still chooses me.

And He chooses you.

“You did not choose me, but I chose you.”

John 15:16

He made you exactly who you are, exactly the way you look, with exactly the flaws you have. (Clarification: you or someone else decided you have flaws. In God’s eyes, you are flawless.)

Grab your Bible and read Genesis 3.

When Eve and Adam had eaten from the forbidden tree, they immediately recognized that they were naked. They hid from God. God called to Adam and asked “Where are you?”

Adam responds, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

God responded with a simple question. “Who told you that you were naked?”

Let’s break this down into our own lives.

Who told you that you didn’t have enough from the beginning?

Who told you not to be who you were meant to be?

Who told you that God doesn’t accept you the way He made you?

Answering these questions will help us get to where the root of this lie began.

Reflect:

Do you believe God made you to be exactly who you are, and on purpose?

What voices do you have in your life that make you feel like you aren’t enough? Not enough for your job, your spouse, your family, your friends? List all possibilities (music, social media, magazines, boyfriend, family, etc.)

What are three simple steps you can take today to cut out those unhealthy voices and mediums from your life?

Pray:

Dear God, let me be content with who I am, what I have and where You are leading me. Help me walk in confidence knowing You created me, called me and chose me. Lord, thank You for accepting me and helping me to know that because of You, I am enough. Amen.