You Are More Than Enough

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:16 (NLT)

As a young teen, my mother lived in a naval town and had fond memories of her time there. The stories I enjoyed hearing were those about a dog called Just Nuisance. Just Nuisance belonged to one of the staff members of the naval base. The Great Dane earned its name because it would block the gangway of naval vessels as soldiers boarded the ships. Some of the sailors would get annoyed and say, “You’re just a nuisance.” Just Nuisance would be spotted not only around the small town, but would sneak onto the train. The train conductors became exasperated with his presence and demanded that his owner keep him from the trains or pay for his ticket. The Navy came up with an ingenious plan. They enlisted Just Nuisance in the  Navy, which meant that he had a free train pass. The Great Dane did not take his “duties” lightly - he bravely prevented fights between sailors, protected drunken sailors on their way home, and boosted their morale. When he died, he was buried with full naval honours.

Naming a dog, Just Nuisance or saying to a dog, “You’re just a nuisance,” can be seen as funny and quirky. However, when we are labelled this way by others, it will inevitably cause emotional harm. We are emotionally harmed when we hear stinging words like, “You’re just a nuisance.” Or “I wish you were never born.”  Or, “We never planned to have you.“ Perhaps other stinging words have been used that have scarred us emotionally. Words that have left us feeling we are not enough. Not needed. Redundant.  Superfluous. We feel unwanted and unloved.

Adopted & Accepted

The good news is that God does not see us this way. He invites us into His family and adopts us as His children. This was His plan all along. This is what Ephesians 1:4-5 (ESV) says,

“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”

He chose us before the foundations of the world, before we were born, to be His children and fulfil His purpose for our lives. God, who knew us before we were conceived in our mother’s womb, sees us (Psalm 139:16).  We may feel unwanted, but God desires us and calls us His children (1 John 3:1). We may feel forgotten, but God knows us (Psalm 139:1-4). We may feel like we are not enough, but He tells us that we are His delight (Isaiah 62:4). Let the All-Sufficient One, the God who is more than enough, show you that you are more than enough.

Define yourself radically as beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is an illusion. Brennan Manning

Reflection: Are you feeling not good enough, unwanted? Will you trust what the All-Sufficient One says about you in His Word?

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that You have chosen me before the foundations of the world. Help me to see that I am Your child and deeply loved by You. That I am more than enough because of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.