You are not enough.

You are not enough.

Does the given statement come across as rude, gloomy, and impolite? This post aims not to create conflict, but rather to share a soothing and significant message.

Looking at the below statements, this is what you would prefer to hear:

“You are capable!”

“You are strong enough!”

“You are worthy!”

“You are in control!”

“You are enough. You are so enough. It’s unbelievable how enough you are!” **(quote by Sierra Boggess, actor/singer of the role "Christine Daaé")

A multitude of individuals on Instagram eagerly shares those painfully overused cliché quotes that seem to be ubiquitous across all segments of society. While these expressions themselves aren't inherently flawed, the issue lies in the incomplete portrayal they offer. This partial perspective, in turn, fosters a sense of unwarranted self-importance and entitlement in numerous individuals. This phenomenon does a significant disservice to the community by propagating a nearly deceptive narrative.

This is what I mean: your “enoughness” cannot save you when we understand our world from an eternal perspective. The many traits such as patience, loyalty, unselfishness, generosity, and loving others, are absolutely wonderful in themselves and God indeed loves it when we do them.

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10 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)

Nevertheless, the truth stands: your commendable deeds are not sufficient to receive salvation.

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20 ESV)

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV)

So, how in the world do we obtain salvation if we cannot gain it by merit?

Arguably, the most significant obstacle arises when a person who has sinned perceives themselves as entirely without sin. Until these individuals comprehend the reality of their miserable state and become repelled by their worldly cravings, they will remain incapable of recognizing Christ as their Redeemer. Consider this: God intervened to rescue us, and that implies a singular truth — we required salvation from something. If, in some way, we possessed the capability to extricate ourselves from the fiery depths of hell, then Jesus wouldn't have been needed to fulfill His role as our Savior.

This is salvation:

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 ESV)

Remember, you are not off the hook just because you believe in Jesus. What did Jesus say regarding our love for Him?

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15 ESV)

Come to know Jesus first and understand the insufficiency of the self and the sufficiency of Jesus through His work on the cross, and then you must walk in step with His rules because remember, the absence of works is a dead faith as explained in the Book of James.

I love Charles Spurgeon's quote here,

“The child of God works not for life, but from life; he does not work to be saved, but works because he is saved.”