“You are enough.” (Brené Brown)
Yesterday’s “fortune cookie quote” was by Oprah Winfrey; today’s is by Brené Brown, an American lecturer, author, and motivational speaker. If you go on shopping websites, you can find this short phrase stitched onto pillows, printed on mugs, and etched onto plaques. And to be fair, there’s something deeply kind about it.
Many of us move through life with a quiet ache formed in us over years of whispers. The whispers take root and grow inside of us, but they’re often planted by the comments of others. We internalize what others say about us and come to conclusions. We’re not quite smart enough. Not good enough. Not pretty or handsome enough. Not disciplined enough. And even not faithful or holy enough. So when someone says, “You are enough,” it feels like a cup of cool water on a hot day.
And yet … Once again, Lent has a way of gently unsettling our inspirational slogans.
Because if I am entirely “enough,” why the ashes? Why the need for confession and pardon? Why the cross?
The Gospel tells a slightly different story. It tells us that we are deeply loved — and deeply in need of grace. It tells us that we are created in the image of God — and prone to do and say things that are the opposite of God’s image. It reminds us that we are precious — and imperfect.
“You are enough” suggests we can stop where we are and be satisfied with what we are. Scripture tells us we’re a work in progress … but still worthy.
Paul writes of Jesus, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Notice what is sufficient: not Paul. The grace of a loving God.
There’s actually freedom here. We don’t have to try be enough because Jesus makes us enough. We don’t have to keep trying to meet impossible standards we set for ourselves. We don’t have to carry the unbearable weight of trying to be good enough for God. We don’t have to keep comparing ourselves to others. We can stop pretending.
And honestly? That’s a relief.
Personally, I love what Paul says, that Jesus’ power is made perfect in weakness. I’m helping make Jesus perfect! Ok, that’s not exactly what it means. But my weaknesses are offset by grace … all of them. And that perfects – shows fully – the power of grace.
I am loved. I am flawed. I am a child of God, made in God’s image. I am still flawed. But Christ is more than enough. And, so, Christ completes me and makes me enough. And the same is true for you.
And somehow that’s better news than any pillow or coffee mug slogan.
Prayer: Gracious God, when I feel like I’m not enough, remind me that I am loved. When I begin to believe I’m enough on my own, remind me I need you. Thank you that your grace is sufficient to quiet the whispers of self-doubt in my mind. Help me to trust in your power to overcome my weaknesses. Thank you that, because of Jesus, I am enough. Amen.
