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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How to ENTER: She your thoughts about today’s devotion OR how you’ve walked through needing to remember your best is in good enough in God’s eyes even when it’s not good enough in the eyes of others.
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I am constantly battling feelings like I’m not good enough. I am such a people pleaser that I always worry about what I’ve said or haven’t said. Having been a former pastor’s wife for 20+ years, this happens quite often. But I have to constantly remind myself that God loves me just as I am and I am not perfect. . It’s amazing how when we feel better about ourselves, everything in life is better, including our relationships. This devotion really spoke to my heart and I would love to win the books and candle. Love Proverbs 31 team and pumpkin scented candles!
Thank you for reminding me that when I feel like a failure it is a lie from the devil. The Lord always sees me as His precious daughter. I am so thankful for that.
Just early this morning the Lord spoke to me about this matter. Almost two years out of a horrible, abusive marriage at the hands of a self-professed Christian man, I still sometimes feel the shame and inadequacy that he put on me. God said His love for me is unconditional. What a wonderful, secure feeling! God is the best provider, protector, and Lover of my soul.
Having been diagnosed with Bi-Plor in the 80’s I felt useless, afraid people would consider me insane or retarded. It really played out bad. Then started getting a handle on it and started letting go and letting God take care of my life . I started getting better and feeling better about myself. I now claim 2nd Timothy 1:7. God has not given me a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind. God has been so good to me in this area of my life. I feel confident and at peace with myself. To God be the glory and praise. Thank you for sharing with us. God bless you and yours . Kay
It’s hard at times specially when you are the Pastor’s Wife and you need to counselor and serve.but thank you for your support and counseling. First of all it reminds you you are not alone. There’s other women going through hard times and that the devil uses that to discourage you. But we can do all things through Christ who gives us the strength to continue
Lately I’ve been realizing that the being “more” for someone else’s perception of me isn’t truly following who God has called me to be. I have also learned that giving God what I have and letting Him do the rest is a lot less stressful than trying to manage it all on my own!
Boy, could I relate to this devotional. I work very hard to get things right, to say things right, to strive for excellence. But, sometimes I’m misunderstood or I make a mistake and someone calls me on it. Then I take it personal and feel like a failure. You have given me some practical steps to help process the truth. Thank you.
This is something that I have to battle every day. I am not perfect and never will be but God still knew me before he created the world and created me anyway. I know that he loves me more than I will ever know on this earth and I try to thank Him every day and do my best (with His grace) to act like it.
He is forever faithful and I just have to keep my mind on that. Even when I feel like I’m falling, He is already there to catch me, provide for me, keep me safe, offer peace…. I could keep going on and on…
I have been on a long painful journey for the last 2 years that is starting to show blessings in a way I never expected. Since a young girl I have feared God was not going to allow me marriage and a family of my own. I have wrestled with that for years sometimes really feeling His peace and sometimes feeling so defeated I questioned my faith ( not God, but me). 3 years ago I met an amazing man. I was 35 and he was 41. Neither of us has ever been married and it truly seemed like a match made in heaven!! We had complimentary personalities, and our beliefs were very much on the same wave length. Then …….the tsunami hit…..he was let go from his job of 20 years and I found out through an er visit I had some advanced reproductive problems. He was unemployed for over a year, and after a horrific year of finding new things that should not be growing on my reproductive organs, I went in for surgery. Fast forward…..he got a great job, and i recovered from surgery quickly and we thought we were on our way to a place where we would finally be able to settle down and eventually (but quickly) start a family. And then it all caught up with us. The stress of his new job, and my continued hospitalizations for complications have driven a wedge between us and he is angry and I am at times hopeless. Now, if I were talking to anyone else I would easily say, and believe, that God’s plan is perfect, and His grace will get them through this. I just can’t seem to believe it for myself. So I made a decision….. I am starting a best yes book club with some girls through my church (so that book-if I were to win the bundle-would go to one of them, as I already have my copy and am loving it!!!!) And we would burn the candle during our time together, and when the evil one jumps into my thoughts, instead of bring hopeless, I am praying for hope for other women who desire children and are experiencing some of the exact
Wow! This was yesterday’s P31 devotional, but I didn’t get to it until today – just now. I could not have heard it’s message yesterday, but today God had me ready for it! Thank you for these words that help reinforce what I was hearing in my own heart today as I struggle through some things right now. I do need to take an honest look at some situations, balancing both responsibility & mercy for myself: embracing grace.
I have often felt that my best wasn’t good enough, and sometimes with people, that is true. But, I have learned that God isn’t like the rest of us, and my best is all He asks! thankfully, I don’t have to worry about what people think.
I so needed this today! I have been totally tapped out! And having my son express some hurtful words to me in the midst of all that’s been going on, really cut me right to the core. Communicating the Truth in Love is such a delicate balance, isn’t it? And with our family, those closest to us; sometimes its even more challenging. Thank you Renee for all YOU do to encourage us! We are sisters in Christ, with the spiritual bond that no person can break.
It’s encouraging to me since I recently list my job and am looking for work. I’ve gotten a lot of job rejections so far and have been doing my “best.” I know god will take care if me but it’s been encouraging to me to know that he’s not disappointed in me right now also .
Thank you for always sharing your heart and God’s faithful love for us. I went for prayer today and once again surrendered to God all my burdens and people in my life. I was encouraged that my righteousness is found in Jesus. The scripture that comes to my mind…
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8 NKJV
Philippians 4:8 in all English translations
Lately my best hasn’t been good enough for myself. I’m very much a textbook people pleaser. Either I’m forgetting to pack a cold lunch for the 6 year old since she doesn’t like what’s on the menu today, I’m arguing with my husband about something petty, or I’m giving half attention to a position I said I could take on. I feel like I’m spreading myself thin and not giving credit where credit is due. I have to start knowing how to say no, to remind myself I can’t save the world, and stop worrying about things I have no control over. I feel I spend too much time focused on what I’m doing wrong in my day and not starting my day focused on what really matters, coming to God in prayer to start my day out in the “right light” and to do everything for His Glory. As long as I giving it my all, no matter if the outcome isn’t picture perfect, I shouldn’t feel that I didn’t do my best. God sees our attempts and attitudes and thank goodness because I only see the finished project at the end of the day, not the big picture.
I am 52 years old and I have not had a girl friend, since high school, that I can share my thoughts with so reading all the comments has been an ah moment for me. I have a wall built around me for fear of rejection, not saying the right things, not doing the right thing or looking the right way. I have listened to the”roaring lion” for so long and I am so ready to see what is on the other side of that wall. God knew that I needed this today. Thank you.
Yep. Right there. That’s where I am. In the middle of a doubt-war! Wishing I could more easily tell the difference between my doubts and reality – what I really can do and what I just fear I can’t.
It’s always good to remember that God is there to help us when we need it.
Thanks Renee! What a wonderful reminder to ask God to help us through the difficult times as opposed to allowing the devil to make the difficult times even worse!
This devotion reminding me to clear my mind of self-doubts and “not good enough” thoughts was truly an uplifting part of my day! I pray that I can keep these words close to my heart and use them whenever I start to feel like I’m drifting back into thinking I’m failing myself or others. God knows my true heart and I have peace knowing I am pleasing to Him. Thanks so much for being a blessing to so many of us!