You are Enough - Encouragement Café - February 20, 2017

You Are Enough
By Beth Mabe Gianopulos

Monday, February 20, 2017

"Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."    

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

I recently started a new Bible study.  To get things started, we had ice breaker questions.  Each woman was asked to tell us one thing they struggled with.  As I read the replies, my heart ached.  I kept thinking, "Me too!"  

Each woman wrote about her struggle with perfection.  One mom was struggling with being the perfect pastor's wife and mom.  Another woman was struggling with being the perfect employee at a demanding job.  Another mom was struggling with balance - she wanted to be an amazing mom, an amazing employee, and an amazing wife, but something was always suffering.  

As I read, I could almost see the unbearable weight of the lies we told ourselves:

I am striving for perfection, but I always fall short
Even my best is not good enough
I am doing everything for everyone, but my everything is not enough

Beneath the drive for perfection and the desire to please was an even deeper need.  What I was saying, and what these women were saying was, “Will I ever do enough to be loved?”

In my desire to be everything to everyone, I had forgotten to be me. 

God never intended for us to be spiritually empty, mentally exhausted, and emotionally spent.  Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) says, "Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  

Jesus doesn't say, "you can only rest when the work is done."  He also doesn't say, "when you are good enough, I will love you."  Jesus says we are simply to come to him.  When we come to him, we will find our life.  He will help us "learn the unforced rhythm of grace." 

God doesn't want a perfect version of you!  God doesn't want you to work a little harder. God doesn't want you to please your boss, your husband, and your kids before you come to him.  God simply wants you.  Just as you are.  God wants you to remember to be you, and God wants me to remember to be me. 

When you begin to hear those voices that speak lies in your head, remember, you are not be perfect, but God loves you because you are you.  Your best is always good enough.  You are enough. 

Jesus, Thank You for loving me just as I am.  Thank You for reminding me that my best is always good enough.  Thank You for reminding me that I am enough. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

© 2017 by Beth Mabe Gianopulos.  All rights reserved.

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Originally published Monday, 20 February 2017.

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