When You Don’t Feel Good Enough

When I read through the Fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5, it is easy to read them as a list of things to be. Be loving. Be joyful. Be peaceful. Be patient. Be kind. Be good. Be faithful. Be gentle. Be self-controlled. I’m a recovering perfectionist, a recovering performer, a recovering pleaser, so when I read these I can read them as a list of everything I need to be doing.

But the truth is I can never, not even for one second, live out any of these characteristics apart from Jesus Christ working within me. I cannot be loving on my own. I cannot be joyful. I cannot be patient. I cannot be kind. I cannot be good. That good one really grips my heart. I spent a good portion of my life trying to be good. Good enough for school. Good enough for honors. Good enough for others. Good enough for bosses. Good enough for God.

I knew in my head that grace was all about my not being good enough and His choosing to love me no matter what, but my heart thought I should keep trying anyway.

Slowly, I’m learning to live in the freedom of His grace. Grace that says it isn’t about my goodness at all. It’s about His goodness. Grace that says I can stop running, stop beating myself up, stop trying to please. Grace that invites me to just sit and rest in the presence of my Good Father.

There’s a Chris Tomlin song called “Good Good Father” that I just love. Part of the lyrics go like this…

Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories Of what they think You’re like But I’ve heard the tender whisper Of love in the dead of night And You tell me that You’re pleased And that I’m never alone You’re a good good Father It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are And I’m loved by You It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am He is the sum of all goodness.

All good comes from Him, is found in Him, and manifests itself in my life through Him. My goodness doesn’t come from a single thing I’ve done or will do. My goodness comes because my good Father loves me. Your goodness comes because the same good Father loves you.

How can you share that same love within your home today? The song by Chris Tomlin is a great one to play in the mornings while you cook breakfast or in the afternoon when you’re getting dinner ready. We have music playing all the time in our house. It’s my prayer that the truths from songs like “Good Good Father” will saturate every crevice of our home and hearts.

**Today’s post was written by Elissa Roberts – follow her at www.elissawroberts.com

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In the Rippy home, we have KLove radio softly playing throughout the walls and halls of our home all day long, and it truly does encourage that sweet reminder of the Good Good Father we love and live for every day.