My dear student,
You ask me why you sometimes feel you do not measure up. You read the Bible and you love it, but so often you come across “convicting” passages that tell you how much more and how much better you could be doing. It feels to you as if you have spent your life reaching for acceptance. Sometimes in the Christian community you are urged to win more souls, do more for others, give more, and love more. You know that no matter how you pray, work, or try, there will always be sins of omission.
I have a few questions for you to think about.
- Why do you want so much to please other people?
- Why do you want to follow every rule and law that comes along?
- Are you afraid of that part of yourself that wants its own way?
- Are you afraid that if you aren’t good enough, you’ll hurt people or miss helping them?
- Are you afraid troubles will come upon you that will overwhelm you?
- Are you afraid that when you really need me I won’t be there for you because you haven’t been good enough?
You might have to answer yes to all those questions, but there is one thing I want you to know and I will lodge that knowing in you because I am the healer and I want to heal you.
You are good enough.
In more “spiritual” terms: … if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new. You are in Christ. You are a new creation. The Bible is full of passages where I say good things to and about you.
Here’s one of your favorites: “Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD listened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought on his name.” Malachi 3:16
