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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One day I was feeling discourage about work and I noticed a piece of paper on the floor. it was an old calendar paper from one of those one-a-day rip off calendar devotionals and it was a reminder we do our work for Godand not for man. And no, it wasn’t a current one so I felt it was meant for me to find.
I loved today’s devotional! I often have to remind myself that I can do SOMETHING right! Even if it is just saying I love you to my husband and child! After my last back surgery in April I have often had to look at something I had done and remind myself that I did it to the best of my ability for right now. It may not measure up to what I could have done 8 months ago but that is ok. God loves me just as I am! Even when I or something I do is not “perfect”!
This devotional was EXACTLY what I needed… Oh, how I could relate to the “uninvited critical thoughts… resigned to the fact that I must be unable to do anything right.” Because, YES, “This enemy is bent on making me believe that when my best isn’t good enough, I’m not good enough.”
Those very thoughts were circling around in my head as I began to read this – and the Lord gently reminded me through your words that I was believing lies and needed to look at truth. I love the 3 points of view – and that is now a “tool in my toolbox” for working through these times.
Thank you so much, Renee, for continuing to share your heart with us!!
I think that comparison is something that is truly evil and from Satan. When you compare yourself to others, you will always feel that you come up short in one way or another – we’re just all different with unique experiences. Recognizing that your path is not and should not be the same as others and that it is still beautiful no matter what is really important. Those people you feel you come up short against probably feel the exact same way about YOU, too!
Love this devotional! Thanks for the chance to win! I feel like I mess up a lot and know it but knowing my mistakes helps me realize that I need God daily. I’m in need of a Savior because I’m not perfect. I could never measure up to God’s standards as a sinner. I need His grace daily.
I never felt like or all I do is struggle and question what I did is not the best but this past month was extremely hard and I had to be remminded by a close friend to leave it in Gods hand, to really trust him with my load and rememebred how I have to remember as I walk though and through my best is good enough in God’s eyes even when it’s not good enough in the eyes of others.
I finally let go and was at peace!
Two things I like about your book, Confident Heart, that I’m reading, and the posts are your clever word plays that stay with me (Example – AM and FM) and the surety that the doubting thoughts and negative selfishness are real and that I can be free of them.
I love this verse 1Peter 5:8-9. I always share it with our children, and I go to it so often. We have to be on guard and not give satan a foothold, and not let our thoughts be consumed with his lies. I did the OBS for your book “A Confident Heart” and I am so grateful to you for writing the book, it encouraged me and changed my life. on page 132 you write “He taught me that my failures don’t have to be fatal; if I let them, the can help me become more like Him. In Christ, you are a woman who is becoming all God created you to be.” Thanks to you and my Savior, I continue to grow everyday. Blessings Anna
Such good truths Renee! The enemy is always waiting to pounce on us to ‘tell’ us we are a failure. The quicker we stop our thoughts from ‘running wild’ and believing the lies of the enemy, the quicker we can hear God’s truth speak to our hearts. We have to believe his word that we are God’s ‘masterpiece’, and He has ‘good works’ for us to do (Eph. 2:10). Your book “A Confident Heart” started me and my women’s small group bible study on our journey of believing God’s word, not the enemies lies.
God is always faithful to us!
Bless you as you speak His truth!
This devotion spoke to me because I’m going through a difficult time right now. We just began a new church ministry about a year ago, and a lot of changes have already taken place, both in the church and in our lives. I struggle with change and with understanding how I fit in. My health doesn’t allow me to participate the way I used to, and this makes me feel even worse. I know that I do the best I can and God accepts that, but I still struggle in all of this. Please pray for me. Thank you.
I spent many years feeling inadequate. I had so many “not enough’s” in my life. Not smart enough, not pretty enough, not skiinny enough…. Thank the Lord, I have learned His truths! “I am precious and honored!” “I am strong and courageous!” “I am seen” “I am loved” and oh so many more. I am God’s daughter, He made me perfect. Thank you Renee, Your books and devotionals have helped me SO much to get the “Not enoughs” out of my thought! Bless you 🙂
As a teacher I give my all daily to my students. There are days when my students may be sad when they arrive at school or a parent may have a complaint. This really hurts when I’ve tried my best to make my classroom a fun and inviting learning environment. This devotion is a reminder that I’m not perfect and I cannot control what may be going on in the lives of my students and their parents outside of school. In God’s eyes I am doing my best by loving each and every student, because they all all uniquely made by Him.
I struggle with the comparison trap of thinking I’m not good enough because I’m struggling financially, so I feel not as good as others when I can’t give as generously as I wish I could. I struggle with thinking I’m too slow at completing tasks. I feel not good enough when I compare my home’s cleanliness or space to my friends’ homes. I am learning that God blessed me in unique ways and with my temperament for a purpose. I am learning to try my best, and then to stop the enemy’s lies with God’s truth in Scripture! God has equipped each of us uniquely and according to His greater good! I/we need to live in joy & celebration of being His specially designed daughters!
I appreciate the honesty and transparency of your story. Most of us would never share something like this. Thank you for sharing what most of us experience but won’t admit. There is nothing we can do to embaress ourselves with our Heavenly Father. So good to remember.
God is so faithful to remind me in a song, a devotional or even a whisper when I am feeling I am not capable, worthy or qualified…
Very nice devotional! Sometimes I feel the same way.
I often struggle with trying to be as good as everyone else as being a parent, student, friend. This devotion was a good reminder that I am good enough in God’s eyes and that is all that really matters. As long and I believe in him I am good.
THIS DEVOTION SPOKE TO ME, AS IT REMINDS ME TO FOCUS ON GOD AND HIS LOVE. RECENTLY WE HAD A TRAGEDY IN OUR FAMILY, MY GRANDSONS AGES 4 AND 1 WERE IN A CAR ACCIDENT AND THEY WERE CALLED HOME TO HEAVEN. EVERYTHING IN ME WANTS TO BE ANGRY AND I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO REMIND MYSELF THAT THEY BELONG TO GOD AND ARE BACK HOME. i MISS THEM MORE THEN WORDS CAN SAY.. I WANT THEM BACK HOME WITH MY DAUGHTER SO WE CAN LOVE THEM AND ENJOY EVERY MOMENT WITH THEM. BUT NOW ALL WE HAVE IS THERE MEMORIES. I AM THANK FULL FOR HAVING THEM IN MY LIFE. I MUST REMIND MYSELF THAT WE WILL SEE THEM AGAIN. EVEN THOUGH IT IS A DAILY STRUGGLE RIGHT NOW. THANK YOU RENE FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND WISDOM WITH US.
I feel like that a lot with my dad I feel like he’s go these unrealistic expectations of me and if I do what he asks me to do he always comes back with a comment like well you did this but you didn’t do that or you could have done this to along with that. There are a lot of times with him that I don’t feel like my best is good enough and the devil starts putting thoughts in my head like, See I told you your not good enough, You never do anything right, Your never going to measure up. There are so many times I feel like that and I think mainly because my dad always has something negative to say and that in itself can overwhelm any ones heart when someone is always making you feel insignificant and that you never do anything. He does mention things I do that are good but those moments are very, very rare. Sometimes I don’t even think he realizes that those comments are hurtful. I’m just praying God will give me the grace to handle those situations with him. Just because a thought pops in my head doesn’t me I have to think it. 2 Corinthians 10:5 (We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.) [NIV]
I want to start by saying Proverbs 31 ministry and Renee Swope both are very encouraging and I enjoy the posts, blogs, devotions from you guys!! Very Blessed. Secondly I too struggle with never feeling “good enough” yet remember that It’s in HIM that I am. NOT in Me but In HIM!! He is my sufficiency, my strength, my Goel, my friend, my provider and He’s all I need to get through today and any day that Satan wants to steal all that I am in HIM. <3 Thank you again for your posts!!