Amy Carroll » Sharing Deeply » When You’re Really NOT Good Enough

When You’re Really NOT Good Enough

Thanks for visiting from the Encouragement for Today devotion today. If you’ve come, I have a feeling you’re tired. Maybe scared. Definitely aware of your weakness.

Me too.

I’d like to pray for you the same kind of prayers I prayed for myself when I was writing my first book, a project that made me realize my complete dependency on God’s grace and equipping.

Lord, I pray for my sisters and brothers who are pursuing Your call but feel unable to fulfill it. You see them. You know their fatigue and discouragement. I pray that You’d be everything they need today. Fill them with peace and strength. Pour refreshment and power into them. Help them to fully trust in You for the wisdom, strategy, and plans that they need.

Jesus, we thank You that You don’t observe us from afar and pity us. You are Emmanuel, the Lord who came to be with us. You are a High Priest that experienced every pain and temptation that we face, so we lean entirely on You. Father, we praise You that you are gracious and kind, full of compassion and love. We ask that Your vine-Life would flow into us. Spirit, we ask you to help us in our weakness even when all we have left are groans.

Lord, I pray that you would surround your children with people who can help. Send them encouragers. Provide them wise counselors. Give them people who help care for them. I ask these things in your precious name, Jesus. Amen.

I’ve put together some scriptures to strengthen you (you’ll probably recognize a lot of them in my prayer!), and you can download a PDF of them if you click here  to print. Put these scriptures somewhere you’ll see them daily, and write or say some prayers of your own. You’ll be encouraged!

Also, if you’d like some weekly encouragement from me in your email box, you can subscribe by entering your email in the sidebar to the right. I’d be honored to be part of your journey! (You’ll also be the first group to know about my release of Breaking Up with Perfect coming this summer.)

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13 Comments

  1. Jacqueline Klecker says:

    I am an alcoholic in recovery. I am so grateful to God for rescuing me from a darkness that almost killed me. I lost everything including my relationships with my sons. I have tried in the past to make amends to them before only to have them reject me even more. Consequently, I would use to medicate myself with alcohol to take away the pain and many negative feelings I had about myself. I am working very hard on my sobriety and helping others to achieve sobriety.

    I live in a house with my dog who was a significant person. We have our own bedrooms and totally no intimacy. His health is bad so he is unable to do physical chores. I only have Social Security for an income. I am able to live here free because I basically do all the work. He is very much of a narcissist personality and can be verbally and mentally abusive. I am grateful I have a roof over my head, a bed, and food to eat. However, I am praying God will open a new door for me and my little dog to live.

    I am a believer in Jesus and believe God has a plan for me. I read scripture for affirmations of how God sees me. I want to be a confident woman and to be able to believe in myself.

    Thank you and God bless you.

    1. Dearest sister Jacqueline, I am praying for you as I can tell you are in a hard spot. Remember hard spots are for a season but not forever. You are right in that God does have a plan and purpose for your life. He knows exactly where you are. I pray you have asked God to forgive you from your sins and given your heart and life to Him. This is the most important choice you will ever make. I pray that you will be a witness for God through your attitude as you “serve” this person in the household. I pray He will see Jesus in and through that He would make things right with God as well. I am praying for strength and am so proud of you in maintaining your sobriety and thanking God for your deliverance. I am praying for your sons-for healing, reconciliation, and restoration with you. This may take awhile as trust is hard to rebuild and they may need to see you live out the life God has chosen for you to bless rather than curse others. I am praying for a new living situation for you when God wills to open that door. You do not mention a spiritual family through a church. I pray you will find a church to attend where you can grow your faith and love as well as be loved and supported. God bless you and your little dog. I thank God for the miracles He has done in your life and pray this will be a New Year of miracles and blessings for you. Always go with God! Love and prayers in Jesus! Deborah

  2. Great timing, I sure needed this. I was feeling an all time low in my ministries.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      I’m praying for renewed strength and vision for you, Chris!

  3. Amy, the Lord has recently been teaching me about Him being able to do immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine. Earlier this morning, I asked for His help in my time with Him this morning. He spoke to go to Proverbs 31 website. I listened to His Voice (some times I miss His Best because I do not listen). Part of His lesson included His grace and the Bible verse that you used is the same Bible verse that I included in the e-mail that I sent out sharing my lesson. When I saw “Visit Amy Carroll’s blog for a free download of Scripture verses to encourage you during difficult tasks and a prayer for strength”, I decided to go to your blog and what I found was definitely more than I expected. I expected there to be Bible verses but God’s best for me was your prayer incorporating Bible verses. For Christmas, I gave a Bible to a sister in the Lord, who means a lot to me. In fact it is just another one of those immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine. In the Bible, I included a prayer which incorporated a few Bible verses. I am so thankful that you listed to His calling and have also persevered because I know that Satan does not want you to do what you do because he has seen what an impact what you do has on the life of others. May He provide you with immeasurably more today.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Thank you so much for taking the time to tell your story and encourage. Blessings as you walk out the Truth God gave you today!

  4. Just wanted to say thank you for the devotional today. Your heartfelt words really spoke to me. My life is wonderful and blessed and though we have some family struggles we are starting to see His light at the end of this troublesome time. Now I am feeling God tugging at my heart strings to start reaching out to others again. Not sure what direction he will lead us in but praying he will lead and guide us to a ministry that will help others and give Him glory.

  5. Hi Amy,
    Thank you for this wisdom today. While the Christmas break is refreshing, it also means spending time with family. And sometimes those closest to you can say sharp words that cut deeply into the heart, making you feel like you are “not good enough”. When my weaknesses are exposed, honestly at first I don’t like it. But once my heart is opened, it becomes easier to surrender that part of it to the Lord. You reminded me that the Lord sees me, and he loves to help His people.

  6. Kathleen Auen says:

    Need direction to all the Scriptures for encouragement that can be found. I am in a particularly bad spot with health issues, finances, but most if all discouragement. Thank you for the help you offer. I know I’m in trouble when I find it difficult to pray. Thank God for the Holy Spirit and for people like you who will pick up the slack when we cannot do it ourselves. Your calling is much more sacred than singing on American Idol. I thank you in advance for the help I know is coming from you.

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Kathleen, I’m praying for you today during this time when you’re struggling to pray for yourself. That’s what sisters are for!

  7. Amen!!! Crazy how the lord works:)

  8. This is so fitting and timely Amy! It’s confirmation for me. I’ve got two seemingly most challenging things that are weighing on me. Troubled marriages, those with silent (ignored) and verbal abuse. I was at a cross road a month ago, not sure why I feel like I am trespassing in my home and hubby never seem to care about the things that matters to my professional and spiritual development. I have a friend who’s like a sister to me about 12 hours away who is going through this similar thing. I’ve been praying for The Lord to keep us loving wives who prays daily for our spouses. I’ve been listening to The Lord and trying to do as He would and not JayB. I’ve found peace in just doing what’s right in the eyes of The Lord. Honestly at times I feel stupid after looking back at my efforts at times. But I’m reminded that all things are possible with The Lord. This year my theme scripture is Phil. 4:13 and phrase is “faith over feelings.” And it’s a miraculous blessing of “drop wide open mouth” blessings and favor from The Lord. So thank you for sharing and allowing me to be encouraged to keep on fighting for marriages that are going through neglect and occasional verbal abuse.

    The second thing is my doubt of getting through this recently started PhD. I am intimidated when I have limited time to read as I’m a very slow reader. My first semester was very demanding. I cried. I prayed. I went to the division chair and asked to be dropped from the program but my request was denied. So I prayed more… And truly The Lord has brought me through the first semester. I have 5 to go. My right arm started malfunctioning close to the end of the semester. I had to get extensions on my assignments and my doctor suggested taking a break. But I couldn’t I had 4 major papers and a final exam. So I became even more prayerful and with my total trust in knowing that if I’m content I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, I called unto Him like His word says in Jer. 33:3, and trusted Him as my shepherd. I’m still doubtful especially when the deadlines are so close. But I remind myself that when I can’t trust myself I can trust The Lord. He’s faithfully put persons in my path to encourage and proof read every assignment for me, and this has been a major play in me remaining in the program.

    So Amy, I look forward to hearing the encouragement a you’ll send my way on these two vital journeys the sacredness of my marriage and the successful completion of my phd in a realistic time (4 years max).

    1. Amy Carroll says:

      Jay, I’m praying for the Redeemer to show Himself strong in your marriage and your friend’s!