When You Feel Like You Are Not Good Enough

I opened my inbox to find the email. It read “…we won’t be working together for this event.” Those words punched me in the gut, even though I imagine the email was written in the kindest way possible. It went on to share the quantity of people who applied to be a speaker at this event was large, and evidently, so was the quality of the applicants. The ugly, familiar nagging voice began its taunting in my head. “See, you are not good enough. I know it, you know it, and the world knows it.”

The voice continued. “If you were good enough, you would have been chosen. You are considered ‘quantity,’ but not ‘quality.’ Why do you keep putting yourself out there? Just give up. You’d be better off.”

Tears ensued. One more rejection to place on top of the growing pile. After a number of statements like “we decided to go a different direction,” or “we will not need your services,” or “we won’t be working together,” or “you aren’t a good fit for our team,” one can begin to question. To question her worth, her ability, and her purpose. She can start to even question her calling. “God, did I misunderstand something here? Didn’t you call me to share the gifts and talents you’ve given me?” I couldn’t help but question.

Allow me to let you in on a little secret: I don’t like rejections.

But, who does? Who likes to be on the receiving end of rejection? No one. Rejection is not fun. Feeling excluded is not fun. Feeling you don’t have what it takes is not fun. Nor is feeling you are not good enough.

Maybe you know the feeling. Quite possibly today you’ve felt your own version of rejection. From a spouse, a friend, a child, or even a parent. Maybe you’ve been told similar words, and you are feeling you don’t measure up. You are not good enough. You just don’t have what it takes. I’m sorry, my friend. I know it hurts. It stings and stinks. No wonder the tears come.

So, what do we do when we feel we are not good enough?

Well, I first had a pity party. I shed tears. I became upset. And I wrote down my feelings. I had things to do in the afternoon, so the pity party couldn’t continue (even though part of me wanted it to). It was time to pull myself together.

So, I started by changing my thinking. I shushed the nagging voice that was telling me I was not good enough, because I knew better. I stopped listening to the lies, and I began a different narrative. This person really didn’t know me. The author of the email didn’t know the gifts and talents God had given me. This person had no clue what she was turning down. (I’m not bragging here, but this I what I had to tell myself to move on.)

Then I prayed for God to remind me who I really am.

My pen took to paper, and this list followed. I looked up Bible verses that coordinated with the words. I read them, believed them, and tucked them in my heart. (If you’re feeling not good enough today, this is for you, too.)

You are:

• talented (because God gave you talents)
• gifted (because God blessed you with gifts – 1 Peter 4:10 TLB)
• special and amazing (because God made you that way – Psalm 139:13-14 NIV)
• unique (because God designed you as one-of-a-kind – Isaiah 64:8 VOICE)
• chosen (because God chooses you every day and Jesus chose to lay down His life for you)
• worthy (Matthew 10:29-31 NIV)
• cherished (God cherishes you – Deuteronomy 7:6 NIV)
• loved (Romans 8:38-39 NIV, 1 John 4:16 NIV)
• a difference maker (Ephesians 2:10 CEV, 1 Thessalonians 5:11 MSG)
• secure (God has you safe in His care – Job 11:18 ESV)
• set apart for Him (Jeremiah 1:5 NIV, Romans 12:2 VOICE)

This is not an exhaustive list. There’s much proof tucked in God’s Word of who He says we are. I could have kept at it all day!

Friend, the next time you feel you are not good enough, believe that you are.

When the feelings come crashing in that you and I are not good enough, it’s okay to feel the emotion. But, when we cry it out, write it out, and pray it out, God tells us something different. God reminds us we are more than good enough. We are His. And that’s what really matters.

Sure, I’m sad I won’t be speaking at this event. But I can’t help but think, maybe God didn’t want me to. Maybe He has something else for me. Or, just maybe He wanted to remind me that I am good enough… with our without speaking at this event.

But, one thing I do know, I’m trusting God knows what He is doing. And all He does is good. Including creating you to be you and me to be me.

Friend, you and I are good enough.

Thanks for stopping by today. Much love to you!

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