Dear Kianna, I often struggle with not feeling good enough or qualified to be a disciple of Jesus. Any tips?
– Feeling Lost
Dear Feeling Lost,
Interestingly enough, when I first thought about writing a response to your question, I said, “Perhaps another day.” I recently faced a few challenges and inner battles that made me feel like I wasn’t qualified to write about our faith. In other words, who am I to share the love of the Lord when I struggle with my own weaknesses, shortcomings and faults?
If I could label the greatest inner battle I have faced in my spiritual life, it would be struggling with not feeling good enough.
Think about our world: With titles, prizes, incentives and the desire for accomplishments, we often need to earn and achieve our way through this life. While competitive drive and goal setting are certainly important, it can be taken too far and cause us to apply the same mindset toward our faith.
So how do we avoid that? These tips I am sharing are the same principles I am working on developing in my life.
First, we need to label and identify the lie that you and I are not good enough. The evil one is always working to discourage and turn us away from the Lord, so we need to recognize and name this fear as a lie to disconnect from its harmful effects.
Second, let’s take the emphasis off ourselves and realize that our faith is not about us. I was driving to work one day last school year and felt lost in the sea of my own challenges and shortcomings. I felt so unqualified to teach theology because of these struggles. I was tempted to be discouraged and arrive to my classroom with a heavy and defeated heart, but I realized that doing this would undermine my calling as a disciple of the Lord. At that moment, I understood that I was not the star of the show; or, in other words, it doesn’t matter how I feel or don’t feel because it’s not about me. It’s about HIM! We show up and do our best because that is what he has called us to do. If you and I don’t show up, we will never be able to spread his love and do his work.
Finally, we need to place our full confidence in the merciful love of Jesus. The Gospel accounts are filled with men and women like you and me who have imperfect, messy lives, yet never once does Jesus turn away from this messiness. In fact, he calls us in our sinfulness and leads us to redemption. He never asks for our perfection, but just for our hearts.
We are certainly a work in progress, but with the grace of God, we will keep growing throughout our lives. Let’s knock out the lie of “not being good enough” because the Lord needs us; he needs hearts that are ready to love, even with imperfections, because if we don’t show up, then the Lord cannot fulfill the work he longs to do through you and me. It’s not about us; it’s about HIM!
May God bless you all!
This article appeared in the October/November issue of Northwest Catholic magazine. Read the rest of the issue here.