Enough

Published: Sept. 20, 2023, 4 a.m.

b'READ: GENESIS 1:27, 31; EPHESIANS 1:2-10; 3:14-19\\n\\n\\n\\nYou might not believe you are good enough, but to the God who created the universe and every human on earth, you are enough.\\n\\n\\n\\nYou might find it difficult to believe you are capable or attractive or talented or special, but the God who made every colorful flower, every sweeping cloud, every gorgeous beach, and every towering mountain is the One who created you too.\\n\\n\\n\\nWhen you start to doubt your worth, think about who it is who created you. God made everything and everyone in this world. He made it all good, and He made you (Genesis 1:31). And, as a human you are even more important than the flowers, the clouds, the beaches, and the mountains\\u2026because you are made in God\\u2019s image (Genesis 1:27).\\n\\n\\n\\nGod knows who you are. He made you on purpose. He loves you just for being you. You don\\u2019t have to try to be anything special to earn His love. The reality is, you could never do enough to earn it\\u2014He gives His love as a gift. Before God created the world, He already knew you and loved you. He even knew that you would sin and reject Him, and He still loved you.\\n\\n\\n\\nThat\\u2019s why Jesus came\\u2026because even though all humans sin and fall short again and again, God doesn\\u2019t give up on us. He died on the cross for us and rose from the grave so that everyone who puts their trust in Jesus can be forgiven and live with Him forever.\\n\\n\\n\\nAs we grow deeper in our relationship with God, we grow more confident in who we are. Because our identity is in Jesus, He has declared that we are enough. We are fully loved by the Creator of the universe. We are completely forgiven through Jesus. We are called to be part of His kingdom work, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to follow wherever God leads us.\\n\\n\\n\\nSo, when you start to doubt your worth, think about who it is who created you. Think about how He was willing to suffer and die for you. Think about the way He invites you to a life of purpose. That\\u2019s how much you\\u2019re worth to God. No matter what you do, God sees you as worthy of the love that He so generously gives. \\u2022 Bethany Acker\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 In what ways have you felt like you\\u2019re not enough?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2022 How can remembering the good news about Jesus help us understand our worth and rest in God\\u2019s love for us, instead of striving to be enough?\\n\\n\\n\\n\\u2026how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:18 (NIV)'