Part 1 of the “What Men Carry and How God Lifts” Series
I wrote a post not long ago asking a question that most of us – if we’re honest – carry quietly in the back of our minds every single day:
“Am I enough?”
[You can read that original post here.]
But I’ve come to realize this question doesn’t just hit us in the big, life-altering moments.
It shows up in the little things too.
In the seconds after a tough conversation with your wife.
In the silence when your teenager shrugs you off.
In the long days at work that seem to end in exhaustion and doubt.
We don’t always say it out loud, but it’s there:
- “Am I doing enough for my family?”
- “Am I leading well enough?”
- “Am I failing them and not even realizing it?”
The Curse of Constant Measuring
Most men live with an invisible scoreboard in their heads.
We measure our value by what we accomplish, how much we earn, how respected we are, or how few mistakes we’ve made.
We keep score in our marriages.
In our parenting.
In our faith.
And deep down, we’re afraid the final score might say we fell short.
But here’s the thing: God never asked us to live like that.
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
– Micah 6:8
God isn’t keeping your score – He’s asking for your heart.
Enough Is Not a Standard – It’s a Surrender
When we ask “Am I enough?” what we’re really asking is:
“Is who I am – without performance or perfection – still worth something?”
And the answer, in Christ, is a resounding yes.
Not because you’ve checked all the boxes.
Not because you got it right today.
But because God’s love for you isn’t based on performance – it’s based on position.
Your identity as a son of God isn’t earned. It’s received.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are.”
– 1 John 3:1
This truth doesn’t erase the weight we feel – but it redefines it.
It’s not about being “enough” in your own strength. It’s about knowing you were never meant to carry that weight alone.
Take This With You
You will have days when you miss the mark.
You’ll speak too sharply, love too poorly, lead too passively.
And the enemy will whisper, “See? You’re not enough.”
But the truth is louder if you’ll listen:
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped.”
– Psalm 28:7
You are not enough on your own – and that’s okay.
Because Christ is enough for you.
And in Him, you have everything you need to keep going.
To lead your family.
To love your wife.
To raise your kids.
To walk through every silent struggle… with strength that doesn’t come from you.
So don’t give up.
You were never expected to be perfect.
You were just called to be present. And to keep walking.
You are enough – because He is.
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