Dear Sweet Mama: No, You Are Not "Enough", That's Why You Need Jesus
Are We Really Enough? Isn't Something Missing from This Slogan?
"You Are Enough."
"You are SO Enough."
I've been seeing that phrase a lot lately as it pertains to motherhood. That's why I thought I'd write this little blog post addressing the essential element I feel this phrase is missing.
Or, rather, the essential person this phrase is missing.
I Know This Sounds Good... But What About Jesus?
I know this phrase sounds good. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Perhaps you're a new mom, and you're feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks at hand. The baby never seems to stop crying long enough for you to feed and hydrate yourself, or take a shower, much less clean your house to your liking or do anything recreational. It all feels so overwhelming (especially at first). Or, maybe you're a seasoned mom, but you're exhausted from all the soccer practices, school lunches and parent-teacher conferences. It's totally understandable! Parenting is hard work. "Adulting" as they call it now, is not easy!
So of course, when someone comes along and tells you "You Are Enough", you're going to get all "the feels", as they say. Yes, you think to yourself. I'm Enough. I'm SO Enough! I don't need to be superwoman, I'm enough just as I am. I may not be the most amazing mom in the world, but I'm doing my best, and yeah I'm overwhelmed, but guess what, I'm ENOUGH!
I totally understand the sentiment behind that phrase, and I get that it sounds really lovely. But aren't we forgetting about a tiny little fact, here? We are not enough as human beings. We are never going to be enough on our own. We cannot even breathe one breath into our lungs without it being provided for by God. He numbers our days, directs our paths, and gives us life and breath and everything else. If you're a Christian, and believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you should be looking to HIM to be your "Enough". When you're tired and overwhelmed, and depleted of all your own strength, it's not "enough" to look to yourself. But, that's okay, because guess what? HE is ENOUGH. Jesus Christ is there to literally step into the gap and give you the strength and grace you need to be the best mother you can be.
Recognize Your Need for Jesus and Come to Him... Jesus is Enough!
The problem with this phrase is that it encourages us to look to and rely on ourselves. We're enough to handle our own problems. We're enough on our own. But that's not what the Bible says. We're supposed to look to Jesus Christ as the one who gives us wisdom, encouragement, peace, grace, and renewed strength.
So next time you hear or see this phrase, if you're a Christian mom, remember to reframe it. You're not enough. None of us are. Jesus is ENOUGH!
"Look to the Lord and His strength; Seek His face always." ~Psalm 105:4
