Enough
I had a vivid dream the other night that I believe unfortunately stemmed from fears of not being enough for a new job I am about to start, my dream job in my career. After sitting and processing it, I think many of us can relate to the struggles revealed in this vivid illustration.
In the dream, I was in a room with a large full-length mirror and a messy rack of clothes and shoes beside it. I was going to a dance and banquet, and for some reason, I didn't prepare my outfit ahead of time, which is very unlike me. In front of the large mirror, I tried on outfit after outfit, frantically searching: dresses, skirts, pants, shoes, but nothing worked! I could feel the stress in my dream rising as my friend who was by my side initially left and was honking the car horn downstairs, letting me know it was time to go.
I remember thinking, "I love dancing. Why can't I find anything to wear?" and "Why wasn't I prepared for this?" I continued to try on various outfits that were not even close to being nice enough - hiking pants, T-shirts, shoes that were too big or old - and as I became more frazzled, I kept losing the one pair of halfway decent shoes I found in my dream that fit me - pure chaos! Nothing felt right, and I felt deflated. My dream ended as my husband said goodbye to me, leaving for work.
What does all this mean? Was this dream revealing something in me? I asked God these questions that morning, sitting on the couch with my coffee. As I journaled, I heard God speak to me of the stress and striving inside that was building in me. Can you relate?
Over and over, I heard Him say, "YOU ARE ENOUGH IN ME," and reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) "...My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness."
I am enough because He is enough. I am enough because He made me that way. If I feel inadequate for where He is calling me, this is a gift because I will have an opportunity to depend on Him even more and allow His power and His grace to be even more evident in my life. His Word says, "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." James 1:2-4 (MSG)
God's plan is for us to live in step with Him every moment. "And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NKJV, emphasis added). As my Dad often says, "God is always working to develop the character of His Son, Jesus Christ, in our lives." It's not always comfortable - RARELY IF EVER - but He did not call us to a life of comfort; the world does.
Let's take a moment to listen to Holy Spirit to hear of any area we do not depend on Him and, as a result, are allowing anxiety, fear, striving, and stress to rule our minds and lives.
Now, I encourage you to first ask for forgiveness for not depending on God in this area, receive God's forgiveness, and finally declare you are ready to walk God's way free from anxiety, fear, and doubt. As Galatians 5:7 says, "It was for freedom He set us free!" Let's live in a way that Jesus gets all that He paid for on the cross starting at this moment.
Now, have a beautiful day living in His presence.
