More Than Good Enough

Good enough. It’s something that, like me, you have probably tried to achieve. As a Christian, sometimes we turn Jesus’ statement to love Him by keeping the commandments (John 14:15) into a burdening chore that we can’t simply accomplish on our own.

We try to look right–wear nice clothing and have pretty hair and a toned figure. We try to eat right–healthy and not too much. We try to obey our parents and keep them happy. We try to be hard workers, good friends, charitable, and leaders in our church and community.

This is all suffocating. No wonder we burn out or get crazy anxiety. Is it just me, or do women get the brunt of all this pressure for perfection? We are expected to look, think, and act like angelic saints.

No one really fits this mold. We can look at our neighbor or friend and assume she’s got it all figured out. She is beautiful, confident, and all put together. But the truth of the matter is that everyone is thinking the same thing we are. Sadly, most of us compare ourselves to our friends and family (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing when done with a healthy mindset).

The thing is, no one can be perfect. I had a wise professor who once said, “nobody’s perfect. Only one perfect person existed, and look what they did to Him!”

A little blunt, but true. Jesus is perfect because He isn’t just human, He’s God. He gets us and understands the weight and pressure to be “good enough.” Jesus understands the weight of the Law upon our shoulders–which is why He took it from us and placed it on His own. 

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6 NIV). 

I have been writing a lot on grace lately because it is something the Lord is helping me understand in my own life. My performance or works cannot save me. Only the blood of Jesus and my faith in Him can save me. 

Love cannot be earned. It was already bought by the perfect blood of Jesus Christ. 

However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5 NIV).

In this world, we may have to work and perform, but Jesus is our rest (Matthew 11:30). God’s love conquers all of our imperfections, and our trust in His love is what sustains our faith. I think Angela Thomas described the love of God for us perfectly in her book, Do You Think I’m Beautiful?

God’s love is unrelenting. He does not turn away even if you do. –Angela Thomas (p. 25).

It does not matter how far we fall or how imperfect we are. We may not always do, say, or think the right things, but Jesus is powerful enough to make up for whatever we may lack. Walking in this love is what frees us from the chains of “good enough” living. Knowing God’s unfailing love is what allows us to walk in abundant, freeing faith.

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to comment and share. I love hearing from you 🙂

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