Lent Guide 2023নমুনা

Week 4 – When I feel I’m not good enough

Sunday

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not good enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe
Oh, I believe
What You say of me
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe
Oh, I believe
What You say of me
Oh, I believe

Taking all I have, and now I'm laying it at Your feet
You have every failure, God, You have every victory
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe
Oh, I believe
What You say of me
I believe

Oh, I believe
Yes, I believe
What You say of me
I believe

You Say by Lauren Daigle

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do

Ephesians 2:4-10

Many of us, people of faith, struggle to believe that we are good enough. I struggle to believe that I am worthy and lovable. I struggle even more to believe that God can love me as I am. I am always tempted to believe that there are things I need to do or accomplish to be worthy of love – especially God's love.

Sometimes I confuse behaviour with my inherent worthiness – I think I don't measure up because of how I have behaved and therefore I’m not good enough. Sometimes I confuse accomplishments – or the accolades of others – with worthiness and therefore think I’m not good enough. Sometimes I internalise negative messages from others and so believe I’m not good enough. Other times my negative thought patterns convince me that I’m not good enough. In challenging times, I can so quickly begin to think – and believe – that I am not enough.

How we think about ourselves impacts our ability to become the best version of ourselves.

Saint Irenaeus, a Christian theologian from the second century, wrote: "The glory of God is man fully alive." When we do not believe we are good enough, we struggle to be "fully alive". Irenaeus believes that each one of us has dignity and is good enough because that is what God wills.

In Lent, we discover how God desires each of us to have life and have it to the full – Jesus tells us, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).

Lent reminds us that we are always good enough despite our human weaknesses and sin. But, unfortunately, thinking the opposite, which we tend to do, is far from the truth.

This week you are invited to step back and notice how the message "I am not good enough" has impacted your relationship with yourself, others, and God. We want to see ourselves as God sees us.

During the week ahead, write down some of the best qualities and gifts you believe you have. Frequently look at the list. Then, in prayer, name the qualities and gifts you have written to God. Finally, intentionally give thanks to God for the work of art that you are.

Grace:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. (Jeremiah 31:3)