Are you enough?

Measuring up.

It’s human nature for us to compare ourselves to one another.

As a kid in church I remember listening to people’s unbelievable stories.

The stories usually had something to do with drugs or alcohol, members of the opposite sex and tobacco but not necessarily in that order. It was the before and after story. Other times it was stories of an amazing healing done by God, but through the prayers of seeming giants in my midst.

Who was I?

Comparing my story to their’s, I was pretty bland. I grew up a good kid, who lived a pretty clean life. I didn’t smoke, drink, chew or run with those who do (most of the time). But I didn’t have much to talk about when it came to conquests – spiritual or otherwise.

My story just didn’t measure up.

What’s so funny?

When Kia was in college, she babysat this little girl who would say the cutest line anytime we would laugh at something. As only a precocious 3 year old can, she would say,

What’s so funny!?

I’m reminded of her because I find it funny not a lot has changed in how I view myself.

I still compare myself to others…simply in the opposite way. Do I measure up in my goodness? Do I live a clean enough life? Are my kids good enough? Is my marriage as strong as another? Do I parent right?

Take that thought a step further, and I compare myself to the heroes of the bible, specifically the New Testament. Am I as bold as Peter? Do I have the vision of John? Do I think and speak as well as Paul? Do I lead like James?

Then there’s Eutychus

Then I read a passage like the one from Acts 20. Instead of mythical legends, I see real, everyday people.

I see Paul being long-winded and not necessarily inspiring. I see this kid Eutychus falling asleep in the middle of a long sermon. Not just dozing off either. I mean knocked out to the point he falls out of a window.

I see people just like you and me.

Thank God for Eutychus, because my feelings are wrong. The truth is the book of Acts (along with a lot of the bible) is a “best of” story. We don’t see many of Paul, Peter, James or John’s bad days. We see the highlights (which are incredibly high). We don’t measure up to those highs…especially in our lows and lulls.

So stop.

Stop measuring yourself against others at church, in the bible or anywhere else. Measure yourself against…yourself. Are you growing? Are you walking forward in your faith? Are you being transformed?

Against that you can always measure up. In fact, you can always measure up to the positive.

Are you enough?

So, I titled this post with a question,

Are you enough?

The answer is yes. You do measure up. You are enough.