I’m not sure where or when or how the phrase originated, but the last few years I’ve seen many women fretting over not being “enough.”
My first thought on hearing this was “Enough for what?” Enough for their responsibilities? For the demands on their time? Enough spiritually? Enough in their relationships?
My second thought was “Of course we’re not ‘enough.'”
In speaking of his ministry to the Corinthians, Paul states, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us” (2 Corinthians 3:5). In place of “sufficient,” some other translations use “competent,” “qualified,” “adequate”—all synonyms for “enough.” The dictionary definition for “sufficient” uses the word “enough.”
One commentary said this verse hearkened back to a question Paul asked in chapter 2, verse 16. After speaking about spreading the “fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere,” Paul asks, “Who is sufficient for these things?”
The answer is given in the second part of verse 5 in chapter 3: “But our sufficiency is from God.”
Other passages bring out these same truths.
In John 15:5, Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 26:41, “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Paul agrees in Romans 7:18: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.”
But, he says in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
And he said God told him, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
And you know what’s even more amazing? God doesn’t do just what’s enough.
In 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
In Jeremiah 31:25, God says, “For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul” (KJV and NKJV). Other versions say God satisfied the weary soul. The idea is being saturated, drinking one’s fill.
When Jesus fed 5,000 people in Matthew 14, there were twelve baskets of leftovers above and beyond what the crowd ate.
In Luke 6:38, Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap.”
In Ephesians 3:20, Paul says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (KJV and NKJV).
So, dear friend, don’t worry about your not-enoughness. Let it turn you to His all-sufficiency. Abide in Him like the branch abides in the vine, letting His Spirit work in and through you. Rest in His grace, His strength, His provision for every need, physical, spiritual, mental, emotional. He is enough. He is more than enough.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
Great thoughts here Ms. Barbara. By myself, I can and will never be enough. With Christ, and His work in me through the Holy Spirit, I can be enough that God can use me to glorify Him. I can’t ask for more than that my friend. God’s blessings.
I smiled when I saw this title because the whole “I’m not enough” phenomena annoys me — it seems like a modern/social media way of stating that you’re frustrated with trying to do it all. At the same time, it seems very attention-seeking and self-focused. I love the way you brought it back to the Scriptures: of course we’re not enough! But praise God that He is.
In Christ we are enough because He fills in our gaps.
Barbara, this is so encouraging. We will never be enough in and of ourselves. May this awareness always cause me to turn to the One who is all sufficient.
Barbara, you put into words what I was feeling but hadn’t thought through. Well said. God is our all. His grace is sufficient.
Oh what a valuable lesson! The only way we are ever enough is by relying on our God who is MORE than enough.
It’s all about being IN HIM,, isn’t it? For truly, only HE is enough…and, as you pointed out, He is more than enough! Thanks Barbara.
What a glorious message! We do not have to worry about being “enough”. We are created by God and that makes us special. Merry Christmas dear friend. 🙂
Beautiful thoughts Barbara. We are enough because Christ is.
Barbara, I could not agree more. I think I wrote a post about this awhile back … I”ll see if I can find it and send to you. There’s such freedom when we realize being “not enough” is OK because God is sufficient.
Yes He is more than enough Barbara!
Blessings, Jennifer
I will NEVER be enough but He made me and He will provide and according to Him, I am enough.
Thank you for visiting and sharing your links with us at SSPS #291. See you again on Monday, January 8th, 2024.
‘My first thought on hearing this was “Enough for what?” Enough for their responsibilities? For the demands on their time? Enough spiritually? Enough in their relationships?’
For sure, Barbara! It’s easy to throw around catch-phrases without truly understanding what we’re saying. Praise God He is enough for us and because of that love we have peace and rest.
Christmas blessings to you and yours. How wonderful to have your beautiful family nearby. Enjoy every golden minute together.
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Amen dear friend, indeed.
Thanks so much for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month.