God has many positive things to say about those who accept the gift of salvation, so why do so many women, Christian women, think they’re not good enough? Let’s examine this lie to see if we can get to the bottom of it and put it behind us once and for all.
What Does “Not Good Enough” Mean?
Table of Contents
When something is considered not good enough, it means that it’s not up to an expected standard. The problem lies in the fact that oftentimes the standards that are used to judge are constantly shifting.
Performance standards are first, culture-driven and then set by individual families. What one family considers exceptional performance may be sub-par in another.
Standards of beauty are always changing. What is considered beautiful in one generation does not always transcend to the next.
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How do you stop thinking you’re not good enough?
How do you believe you are enough? The key to changing the belief that you’re not good enough is to change the standards you use to measure yourself. Instead of basing it on what the world says, base it on what God says.
Now I want to warn you, the Bible will confirm that you’re not good enough but it won’t be based on any slippery scale. It will be based on the fact that we’re sinful beings and none of our actions will ever make us good enough.
If that discourages you let me point out that none of us are good enough. All of us are on equal standing at the foot of the cross.
But there is good news. We’re not good enough but God is. As Jesus told the rich young ruler, only God is good. What that means is we can stop trying to attain an impossible standard. We will never be able to atone for our own sins.
That’s why we need Jesus. Our “good enough” comes from Him and through Him. It is He who makes us able to stand before God. It is His righteousness that covers our sinful nature and makes us enough.
What Does the Bible Say About Not Feeling Good Enough?
When the thought that we’re not good enough threatens to push us into the depths of despair, the Bible offers us comfort.
- We might not be enough but we’re covered by the grace of God.
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
- When no one else appreciates us, God does. He created us in our mothers’ womb.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. – Psalm 139:13-14 ESV
- When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you become a member of God’s family. God calls you His child, rejoice in that instead of lamenting on all the reasons you believe you’re not good enough.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. -1 John 3:1 ESV
- God rejoices over you! Can you imagine that?
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. – Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
- You have been chosen to represent God on earth. Shake off your feelings of inadequacy and embrace your identity as God’s chosen priest.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. – 1 Peter 2:9 ESV
Each of us has a different reason for our feelings of inadequacy. I encourage you to do a Bible study on not feeling good enough so that you can create a répertoire of verses to defeat those feelings.
Bible verses about feeling unworthy
When you feel worthless, these seven Bible verses will remind you of your value to God.
Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. – Luke 12:7 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. -Isaiah 43:4 ESV
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – 1 John 4:9-10 ESV
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39 ESV
My Review of Enough: Silencing the Lies That Steal Your Confidence
This book is one that every female aged 16-years and older should read. As women, we start collecting and believing a number of lies about ourselves. Worthless. Unloved. Ugly. Stupid. Unacceptable. Unforgivable. Dirty. Unhappy. Failure. Not good enough. And on and on we go.
Those who try to motivate us, tell us that we should say positive self-affirmation to ourselves but the problem with that is that so few of us believe the positive things that we say to ourselves. In Enough: Silencing the Lies That Steal Your Confidence, Sharon Jaynes teaches a three-part strategy for breaking the power that lies have over us.
- Recognize the lie
- Reject the lie
- Replace the lie with truth
Each chapter starts with one of the lies that we tell ourselves and walks us through Bible truths to get to the truth. I selected this book for review in Netgalley because I am familiar with Sharon Jayne’s style from the Girlfriends in God blog and I was not disappointed. Filled with anecdotes and stories from women around the world you will recognize yourself many times on the pages. I did.
Enough: Silencing the Lies That Steal Your Confidence by Sharon Jaynes is not just a book about lies. It’s a textbook showing us how to identify the lie, expose the lie so that we can move into the truth that frees us.
Divided into two sections: the first, teaching us the technique, and the second, showing us the lies and the specific tips to embrace the truth of our worth as women. Nine major lies are covered in-depth and dozens more are included in the Quick Reference Guide section.
There’s also a bonus Bible study section with eleven lessons that seek to reinforce the techniques taught in the book.
Know God: Enough refers you to the Bible as the ultimate sword. Our power to dispel the lies of the enemy comes from the word of God. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life – only when we depend on Him do we have true power.
Know yourself: Chances are if there’s a lie you’ve been told or have believed about yourself, it’s uncovered or referenced in this book. For those that aren’t there, you are taught the technique of recognizing, rejecting, and replacing lies with truth.
Run your race: Lies add weight. They are an unnecessary burden to carry as we go about the business of running the race set before us. The lighter we are, the better we run. God is always there with us in the struggle – even when it feels like He’s abandoned us.
Favorite Quotes from Enough and Why I Like Them
“The devil can’t take away the promises of God. He can’t change the truth of who you are and what you have in Christ. But he can put a question mark at the end of those promises to cause you to question if His word is really true for you.”
This causes me to focus on all the things I have in Christ. It also reminds me that satan might be a thief but he can’t steal the love my Heavenly Father has for me. Nor can he take away the gifts I have received from the Holy Spirit.
“Satan knows exactly which lies to whisper in your mind. He has watched you over the years and is well acquainted with your insecurities, weaknesses and vulnerabilities.”
This is something I have told myself many times before. But hearing someone else say the same thing? That’s validation. It means that there’s truth here and I have another voice telling me that the enemy is using what he knows about me against me.
“The voice you listen to will determine your destiny. When you choose to listen to the Truth, you will live a life based on truth.”
What a beautiful reminder for us to choose to listen to what God says about us instead of what the enemy does. The enemy is sometimes sneaky – he looks like the people we love and let into our world. When we remember that the only voice worth listening to is Jesus Christ’s, it puts everything into perspective.
Get your copy on Amazon. I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley; a positive review was not required.
About Enough: Silencing the Lies That Steal Your Confidence
What Can You Do When You Feel You’re Just Not Good Enough?
Do the voices in your head say you’re not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough…or just not enough, period? It’s time to stop listening to lies that sabotage your confidence and embrace the truth of who God says you are.
Popular author and speaker Sharon Jaynes exposes the lies that keep you bogged down in shame, insecurity, and feelings of inadequacy. By recognizing the lies and replacing them with truth, you’ll be able to silence the voice inside that whispers you’re just not good enough accept God’s grace and move past failures that have defined and confined you preload your heart with truth to fight your deepest insecurities.
Your confidence and faith will grow when you trade self-defeating thoughts for God’s truth. Today is the day to embrace your incredible worth as a woman who is uniquely fashioned and spiritually empowered.
About Sharon Jaynes
Sharon Jaynes is an international conference speaker and author of 20 books, with over a half-million sold. For ten years, she served as vice-president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and co-host for their daily radio program.
Sharon is the co-founder of Girlfriends in God, Inc., a ministry that touches nearly 500,000 women daily through internet devotions. Sharon is also a popular guest on radio and television programs such as Revive our Hearts and Family Life. Sharon loves speaking at women’s events and enjoys engaging with her readers on her blog at www.sharonjaynes.com.
Follow her at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes, www.twitter.com/sharonjaynes, www.facebook.com/ThePrayingWivesClub, and www.instagram.com/sharonejaynes.
Have you read Enough by Sharon Jaynes? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.
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