Have you ever gotten that awful pit-in-your-stomach feeling after finding out you let someone down?
It felt like the wind had been knocked out of me as I read through an email from a client, sent to my manager and forwarded to me, describing how I had let some details fall through the cracks on a project.
A horrible sense of discouragement and embarrassment moved in for the kill.
In the past, I would have welcomed my uninvited critical thoughts to stay a while, resigned to the fact that I must be unable to do anything right!
But not this time; too many hurtful experiences had taught me to recognize failure as an opportune time for my opponent, the devil, to devour me with feelings of inadequacy and shame. This enemy is bent on making me believe that when my best isn’t good enough, I’m not good enough.
Fortunately, times of pain have also included hours of poring over God’s promises, gathering wisdom to deal with this unwelcome intruder. I have learned to be alert to the devil’s schemes and ready to stand against them. In 1 Peter 5:8-9, Peter tells us how:
“Keep your mind clear, and be alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion as he looks for someone to devour. Be firm in the faith and resist him, knowing that other believers throughout the world are going through the same kind of suffering” (1 Peter 5:8-9).
After reading the email and letting my thoughts run wild for a few minutes, I knew I had to clear my mind. I asked the Holy Spirit to help me un-clutter my thoughts with the clarity of truth from logistical, circumstantial and spiritual points of view….
Read the rest of this story and what happened in my Encouragement for Today on the Proverbs 31 Ministries blog. But BEFORE YOU go…
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So many times we do as women feel that if we fail at something we’ve let everyone down. God is the only person we need to please. And I like the words that was spoken above start to have negative feelings about myself and have my pity party. Wondering why am I here? What’s my purpose? But then I realize that God has a plan for me. And I know that as a mother and a wife that is an important role that God has given me. Thanks you for the words.
My biggest hurdle is just feeling like I never do my best. I have to remember to take more time with God to be at my best with Him is to be at my best with everyone else.
This is me to a pin point – I constantly think about how I potentially made someone feel – do you see “potentially” …I often don’t even know that if I have hurt someone, yet I get so sick feeling that I may have that I analyze over and over until I’m blue in the face what I did, what I said, how I hurt them and I end up really honestly hurting myself more. I’ve put up so many walls around me because of this because I’m afraid of people getting mad or being hurt and I stifle my own emotions along the way – but something has to change and this post has give me the courage to realize I’m not alone and that I do not have to live in this purgatory!
I can fully relate to feeling like my best isn’t good enough for others and then suddenly doubt that anything I do and worse all that I am is suddenly called into question because of another’s comment. I honestly struggle with telling myself that I am always worthy in God’s eyes. I have fibromyalgia and many times I have to turn down offers, change plans, and just stop completely because I physically/mentally can’t go on until I rest. I don’t look sick on the outside and so sometimes I think people question if I’m just making excuses. Maybe that’s a lie I tell myself too! I always give my best, but often it isn’t enough to others. I want to stop the crazy insanity of believing Satan’s lies and change my thinking to where I can walk through the truths and not let things people say (or don’t say) pull me down to where I feel bad about myself. God created me and is crafting me, so how can I believe that He doesn’t know what he’s doing! Get behind me Satan!!
This is a struggle spoke to my heart. When I take the time to pray my heart out before Jesus, and really wait and listen for His voice, I am always encouraged. My own fears and doubts make me question who I am in Christ! So grateful that Jesus never changes!
Thank you for these beautiful words. Far too often, I allow my negative thoughts to overtake me and drown me in words of pain and sorrow. And it’s no fun! Your words are always encouraging and pointing to God’s direction. And reminding me to find the truth from Him, not those harsh words whispered from the evil one. Thank you!
Thank you for the timely reminder! I struggle with perfectionism and feeling like I have to be perfect to be loved, by others and God. Of course, I fail on a daily basis and the cycle continues. Grace, grace, beautiful grace.
thank you for reminding that I only have to “look” good in God’s eyes……..I don’t have to fit in at work or live up to my kids’ expectations. As long as I live for God and do as he expects me too than I am “good enough”.
Renee, I was with two girlfriends at the Reaching Women’s Conference in Findlay, Ohio last week and we loved your presentation. Your story with all the challenges, blessings and burdens is inspirational, we loved you so much! It was if a good friend was speaking to us, thank you for using God’s gift and sharing with us all. I purchased your Confident Heart book and would love to win the devotional to go with it. That said, your devotion is wonderful and timely. Our church and small group is having an 8 week Transformed Campaign, a Rick Warren study, and this week’s study is Mental Health. I have shared your devotion with our group, it is just perfect to keep us in His word and thinking about our studies today. God bless you and your family, your ministry is touching lives.
When I finally realized, deep in my heart and soul, that doing my best really was good enough for God, it was incredibly freeing. As a life long perfectionist, who had been afraid to try new things if I didn’t know how to do them (just a bit silly really) for fear of not doing them well, my new understanding of ‘good enough’ was a gateway to try new things in life, parenting, work, etc.
And, the concept of ‘good enough’ is so easy for me to extend to others now. Seeing them as fellow children of God, no matter what their relationship with God is, has helped me be more supportive and encouraging to others.
This devotion just confirms to me that God is revealing to me that I have to stop worrying about pleasing others. I have struggled with people pleasing. But that happens to pull the best of me from my husband and family. They get my leftovers. And that’s not pretty. Thanks for your post. It is confirmation of so things I need to tweak and things I have to let go!
Your Blog, always seems to come at the right time. As a mother of two that works full time, I feel some days
that my best will never been enough, thanks for the reminder that It is in Gods eyes.
Trying to keep my mind steadfast on Him. Isaiah 26:3
Thank you for reminder in this devotion
The feeling of not being enough has been my companion most of my life. I have a solid faith and a biggish personality, so people probably have no clue I struggle so much inwardly with feelings of self-condemnation. Something like a mistake at work, or disappointing a child or my husband, sounds the battle cry for the enemy and “its on” inside my head. I tell myself things I would NEVER say to anyone else: no grace, no patience, no love… just condemnation.
After year’s of battle, I’ve realized I don’t have to be enough because I have the Holy Spirit within me and He is Enough. But, I still have to live and that doesn’t stop the attack or the patterns of self-condemnation. When I make a mistake or notice the voice of criticism in my head, my go to verses are Romans 8:1 and Zephaniah 3:17. I remind myself that, in Jesus, there is no condemnation; consequences, of course, condemnation… never. He is my, ever-present, mighty warrior; my defender. Regardless of my performance, Jesus rejoices over me, He is ready to quiet me with His love and He takes great delight in me.
If that is true… then one mistake then I can move on. Who am I to argue with Jesus?
I have to remind myself daily that God thinks I am perfect because the devil tries to tell me something totally different.. My life has been one failure after another. Two divorces, bankruptcy, single motherhood and still struggle financially. I am 52, and I play the devil’s compare game and look at friends with their beautiful homes (I rent), their happily together families who get to travel and seem “successful.” Thank you God for the Holy Spirit that over rides those thoughts and reminds me my success is not on this side of heaven. I wouldn’t trade my struggles for anything because where I am weak, HE is strong. Everyday I fall more in love with HIM.
thank you for the reminder that we are great in the eyes of the Lord. I just went through a separation and felt like I was a complete failure. Through this reading I am reminded that I am not and that I am loved. Thank you for your ministry and the 7 day doubt diet. It is a. Blessing,
Thank you for this sweet reminder. I battle taking my thoughts captive and not letting the foothold of defeat and negativity to settle in my thoughts. I have posted verses, on my phone lock screens or on post-its at my computer at work, that remind me of the TRUTH that helps to turn my thoughts from assuming the worst to hopeful for the best. Psalm 23:6a (MSG) is HUGE to me: Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. This helps me remember that no matter what is done to me, said about me, how I have missed the mark or just having a down day, the Lord loves me and pursues me in the midst of my mess.
I guess at some point in time we have all been hurt by comments that seem unfair or unwarranted. But this made me wonder how many times it was my words that spoke hurt into another’s life. How many times have I failed to lift others up because I choose to judge instead. I pray when that does happen to have the conviction I need so I can confess my sin. Maybe there are times I’m not hard enough on myself. How great it is to know that even through our failures we have a God who still loves us. Lord, help us all that failure doesn’t become the lie we use to define our self..
My earliest memories of not measuring up are from the first grade playground. I lived my life in that place even through salvation, until the day Romans 8:1 became real to me by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ever since, I have been able to live mostly guilt-free, able to move on. There is only so far down I can fall because GOD holds me up with His love and forgiveness. I’m OK because He knows me in and out, the deepest recesses of me, and has accepted me as His child anyway. For that, I am eternally grateful!
How satan works to discourage us.
Thank you