It occurred to me while doing a group study on overcoming insecurities that the more I focused on the fact that I have insecurities I need to overcome, the more highlighted that reality became. On the flip side, something else happened. As each of us in the group shared the ways we believed we were “not enough,” a sense of camaraderie took place within that vulnerability. The shame that was in the spotlight of not being enough grew dimmer. 

However, after the class was over, most of our insecurities remained. No one said it out loud that they had not been “cured,” but it was easy to see we still felt insufficiencies within ourselves that would rear their ugly heads from time to time. We’d even share them with one another on occasion in the hopes of being provided with affirmations. Did these endorsements help us or keep us stuck there in the whoa-is-me part of not being enough? I wondered. 

I wondered if my insecurities had the potential of becoming a crutch for me to lean on to for validation purposes and also for not venturing out to do the hard things I believed God was calling me to. I mean, how often had I whimpered about not being enough in the hopes the receiving party would provide me with the opposing validation of my “amazing-ness”? Plus, how often had I believed I could not do something that was outside my comfort zone? Please tell me I’m not the only one.

Case in point, I once volunteered at my church to start doing the announcements during service. Public speaking was absolutely not my strong suit, but I felt God compelling me to do such a thing, so I did this. Every time I got up to share the upcoming events, though, I’d begin with a forewarning of my public speaking plights. Finally, one of the ladies in church confronted me afterward, “Stop saying that, and just give the announcements.” 

Goodness gracious! Although it was a bit of a blow, I thought about what she said for a while. Then something dawned on me: Maybe instead of fighting a battle that I may not ever win, I should simply accept that I have many inadequacies. There will always be things about me that truly are “not enough.” That doesn’t make me awful. It simply makes me human. 

More than that though, when I realized and accepted the fact that I am not, nor ever will be “enough,” I audibly sighed in relief, because in that moment I came to terms with the fact that the Holy Spirit lives within me, and He is more than enough! Anything I am capable of accomplishing that is truly good is because of Who He is within me. 

In 2 Corinthians 12:9-11 Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

As followers of Christ, let’s bask in our weaknesses, because those of us who have a relationship with Him have the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. We can live life knowing Ephesians 3:20-21 is true: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus though all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” 

We serve an amazing God! One that loves using His “inadequate” children to do amazing things with His power and for His glory. Nope, I am not enough, but He is more than enough! My confidence is in Him.