He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17 NIV

STOP!!! Do not read this if you have it all together.  This is only for you if you have ever felt less than enough.  

I’ve been there many times… too many times actually.  How about you?  I know I have an idea in mind of what the “perfect” wife or mom is.  I often feel like I could be a better friend or daughter.  My house could be cleaner and more organized.  My schedule could be more structured.  I could definitely exercise more!  The list goes on and on and on!!!  It is exhausting just thinking about it all.  We try to keep it all together and the irony is we are not even in control.  Without the one who holds us and holds all things together, where would we even be?

If you are anything like me, almost from the moment you wake up, you are making a list in your head of everything that needs to get done before your head hits the pillow again.  It never seems like there is enough time in the day to get it all done, but I start out very determined to try. I say a prayer then my feet hit the floor as I make my way to the bathroom to wash away the day before.  Out of the corner of my eye that is barely open I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I add a few more items to the list.  It is going to take a lot more than a brush and some lipstick to fix this!  After deciding the scale must be broken, I manage to find a clean shirt and I squeeze into my jeans.  After telling the kids to wake up and get out of bed for the 9th time, I throw in a load of laundry and let the dogs out.  The dogs get fed, the coffee is brewing, breakfast is hot and ready, and I think I am actually off to a great start!  I am then reminded by my children of how annoying I am in the morning when after the 10th wake-up call, I am pulling them out of bed.  Of course, at this point breakfast is cold and we are running late.  After a quick bite to eat, one of the kids still lets me give him a hug and they are all out the door for the bus.  Whew!

The whirlwind has settled for a moment, only to reveal the dust and of course all the dirty dishes.  Room to room I go, cleaning up all the messes from the day before, knowing full well they will all be there again.  I wonder to myself if what I am doing is enough.  Am I enough?  I start to compare my house and myself to all of the posts and pics I see online and in the magazines.  Why do I do this?  Why do any of us do this?  As much as I want it to be, I know my house will never look like it is out of a magazine and neither will I.

The enemy will sneak into our thoughts though to try to make us feel like we are not enough, like we are less than we are meant to be, and that we are unworthy!  That is when we need to do like Jesus did on the mountain and tell the devil to get away!

Jesus said to him, “Away from me Satan!  For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’”  Matthew 4:10 NIV

We already know that we can’t be enough or do enough in our own strength.  We don’t need any reminders of that!  We do need to be reminded that we are not less than.  We are of great worth!  We need to inhabit our worth.  We are beloved daughters of the King!  We are chosen and dearly loved!  He created us to worship and serve Him and not the world.  God wants us to trust Him and to rely and depend on Him for everything.  We need to take the focus off of ourselves and put the focus on the Lord!

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Isaiah 26:3 NLT

Jesus, thank You for Your word that tells me I am loved by You and I am of great worth to You!  Help me to keep my eyes fixed on You and not to worry about my shortcomings. When I am weak, You are strong.  Help me to be glad in my weakness, so Your power may rest on me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.