What if I'm not good enough? The truth that changes the way you look at yourself

Do you ever feel like you're not good enough? Shame binds us and takes us away from relationships and from God. But there is a way out! This article will show you how you can experience true freedom and acceptance. Inspiration, a powerful story and practical steps to break out of the trap of shame await you.

Imagine you're walking down the street, feeling great... and then you notice you have a huge coffee stain on your shirt. What are you gonna do? Maybe you cover it with a jacket, maybe you try to subtly disappear. But inside you feel an uncomfortable tension. Studs.

Shame is like a silent companion that does not work for our good. He's constantly whispering in our ear: “You're not good enough. People will condemn you. You can't do it. “And we believe him. But what if it's not true?

The Origin of Our Shame: A Story as Old as Humanity Itself

Shame crept into our lives a long time ago. Even before we started writing our story, people around us were already telling us about us. Comments from teachers, parents, peers -- sometimes well-intentioned, other times not -- have instilled in us the belief that we are not enough.

No wonder we carry this feeling through life. Even Adam and Eve in Paradise met with shame as the first people in the world.

In the Garden of Eden, they were naked, but they were not ashamed. No uncertainty, no fear. But then came the lie: “Did God forbid you to eat from all the trees? “The serpent did not say anything specifically evil—it only sowed doubt. That God is hiding something. And so they decided to take matters into their own hands. There was a merry-go-round of fantasies in us.

And what happened? They recognized that they were naked. Suddenly they were vulnerable. And so they hid.

Just like us. When we feel we are not good enough, we withdraw into ourselves. We stop trusting each other. And most importantly, we stop believing that anyone can love us for who we are.

How shame rewrites our story

Shame keeps us in the shadows. It whispers to us that we need to be better, that we need to prove our worth. And so we hide behind “fig leaves” -- masks meant to cover up our flaws.

• We make ourselves stronger than we are so that no one can see our weaknesses.
• We play being cool and non-participating because what if we opened up to someone and they turned us down?
• We avoid deeper relationships because we don't want to risk someone seeing us for real.

But this only deepens our own isolation. Shame separates us not only from people, but also from God.

God asks: Where are you?

God didn't call for people because he didn't know where they were hiding. “Where are you? “was a relationship issue.

And it's the same question he's asking you today. Where are you? What do you feel?

Are you hiding? Are you afraid to be seen? Has anyone (or shame himself) convinced you that you're not good enough?

Here's the truth: God never stopped looking for you.

The Way Back: A Vulnerability That Heals

Maybe you're afraid that if you were really seen, people would reject you. Maybe you're afraid that God will reject you, too. But Jesus came precisely to break this lie.

He was naked on the cross -- completely vulnerable. And it wasn't because he had no other choice. He did it to show us that God loves us even in our nakedness, weakness and imperfection.

Jesus does not condemn you.

Jesus does not reject you.

Jesus is inviting you home.

How to get rid of the influence of shame? Practical steps

Shame won't have much power over you unless you take it from him. How to do that?

1. Name Your Shame

When was the last time someone made you feel like you weren't good enough? What was going through your mind at the time?

2. Be vulnerable

Find someone you trust and share with them what's weighing you down. You might be surprised you're not alone in this.

3. Accept the Truth God Says About You

Your value is not in what you can do. It's not in your looks, success or perfection. You are sufficient because God created you and loves you as you are.

4. Find a community where you can be yourself

Finding a place like this can be key — a space where you can be yourself, without the pretense and fear of condemnation. SafePoint is one such place where people can discover faith authentically and in an atmosphere of acceptance.

Today is the time to rewrite your story

Maybe all your life you've been believing the lie that you're not enough. But today is the day you can say “no” to this lie.

So... where are you? Maybe it's time to step out of the shadows. Maybe it's time to stop hiding.

Because God is looking for you. And he's waiting for you with open arms.