You are(n’t) Enough

You have undoubtedly been told it recently.  It’s on internet ads and tv commercials.  I even saw it on a digital billboard just this past week.  “You Are Enough.”  It’s a great, self-reliance word that is to encourage me while instilling independence and strength.  It is meant to motivate me to find all of life’s answers within myself. 

So, I tried. And I failed. Miserably.

It was a season of intense storms in my life.  They hit like a category 5 hurricane across the shoreline – ripping away at what I had built.  My reaction was to isolate and work to rebuild.  I turned inward.  I holed up and began to write out solutions to the pressures that had pummeled against my established life.  I’d try to implement those solutions but couldn’t seem to find enough within me to begin the rebuild process.  I reached down deep to find my courage and strength and what I found did not fill the void of what was needed.  No matter how I tried to “be enough”, I was not.  I was laughably not.

My personality lends itself to self-reliance.  Not only is there a high sense of accomplishment when I succeed, but there’s also a strong desire not to bother anyone with my cockamamie ideas.  It’s easier just to do it myself.  But, I am learning – the difficult way – I’m not enough.

In the New Testament, the Greek word allelon is used 100 times.  It is translated “one another, reciprocally, mutually”.  For example, John 13.34 says to “Love one another”.  Romans 14.19 says to “build each other up”.  Galatians 6.2 “bear one another’s burdens.”  Colossians 3.16 “teach one another”, 1 Thessalonians 5.11 “encourage one another”.  You get the point, right?

As a devoted, card-carrying introvert “Golden Retriever” personality (see Smalley-Trent personality test), I have to be honest here.  I run from this like I run from snakes – quickly, non-masculine-screaming with arms flailing.  It’s not natural for me.  I’d much rather do it myself than to have to explain it to my “one anothers”. 

But sorting out from the aftermath of the life storm, I realized I could not do this alone.  I came to grips with the idea that I AM NOT ENOUGH.  I was never meant to be.  I had people come alongside me who loved me, dabbed my bleeding wounds, patiently waited on me to heal.  WIth healing brought new purpose.  It brought a new realization that even though I am not enough, God has blessed me through the blessings He’s given others.  I am amazed when I receive exactly the word I needed when I need it through God’s people. 

Another “one another” verse is Romans 12.16.  It says to “live in harmony with one another”.  Harmony is so cool.  There are typically 3 (sometimes more) notes in a chord.  I cannot sing more than one of those notes by myself.  As I add someone else to the tune singing a couple notes higher than me and then another, the music gets so much more awesome.  The more I know them, the tighter our harmony gets.  As an independent introvert, I can still do my one note, but when I add my “one anothers” to it, the sound is sweet and God is pleased (2 Corinthians 5.9).

As much as I hate to break it to you, you are NOT enough.  You were never designed to be.  God has given us community, friends, church to disciple us and grow us to be more like Jesus.  Look around you.  See who God has put in your life to sing harmony with you.  Thank God for one another, grow close to one another, depend on one another and begin singing as the storms of life start raining down on you – I mean one another.

If this post has stirred a desire to talk more, there is hope and help! Please contact Mile18. We offer free Biblical Counseling and would love to talk and pray with you… in person (Central Arkansas) or virtual.