Growing up in a Christian home, I’ve learnt many fundamental truths. I've learnt that I am made in God’s image. I’ve learnt that I have been given free will. Lastly, I've learnt that I, as a woman, am one of father Abraham’s many sons.
A new truth that I am learning to live out is that I am enough, without being too much. One of the most freeing experiences of my young adult life has been learning to accept and choose me daily.
The voice of society
Growing up as a child of the late nineties, the voice of society has just grown louder – telling my generation how to succeed in school, how to be a good friend, how to dress fashionably, how, when and who to date…
The list goes on, and Christian society is no less opinionated than that of the secular world. The comparison game has many of us trapped, it has us cornered, questioning if we are enough of this and that. Am I thoughtful enough without being I too clingy? Do I dress cute enough while still honouring Christ with my body?
As humans, our nature is to constantly strive to better ourselves, making our evaluation of our worth that much more important. If we come up short when we compare ourselves to others, we instinctively want to fix that part of ourselves because it is unpleasant to feel ‘not enough.’
Would you choose you?
The beauty of being made to be in community is not having to fight these battles alone. Recently, while discussing the idea of how feeling unworthy alters our behaviour, a friend challenged me with this question: “Would you choose you?”
It had me stumped. We are so quick to dismiss other people because they are not enough of this or too much of that, but the game is changed when we reflect the question to ourselves.
As I was contemplating the question my friend posed me, I thought of the creation story. I pictured the Father holding my shoulders, looking me in the eye and seeing that ‘it is good.’ I am good. I am enough.
Yes, my laugh is sometimes so loud it could break glass. Yes, perfectionism still plagues me. Yes, I love people too deeply at times. Yes, my peers often regard me as a prude. However, regardless of all my shortcomings, I am enough. I am so enough, that the Creator sees me as good.
Choosing to live out your God-given identity
The realisation that who God created you to be is good enough is freeing to say the least. All that is left is to choose to live in that freedom, irrespective of how your identity lines up with the expectations of society.
I am not arguing for a relative truth or an individualised Christianity where you can live with one foot in the world and one in the Kingdom. Not at all.
I am arguing for a life where you realise that when the Father looks at you, He, the Creator, sees something good. You are enough. The understanding that you are the way you are because God created you to be grounds your identity in the sovereignty of God.
Choosing to walk out that identity gives you confidence like no other to daily choose to put on the jacket, adorned with the patches that tell your story and splashed with the colours of your personality, and tackle each day with confidence!
Petro Swart was born in South Africa and relocated with her family to New Zealand as a toddler. Petro recently completed a Bachelor of Physical Education (Hons) at the University of Otago. While in Otago Petro worshiped at the Dunedin campus of Elim Church, a family church with a thriving student ministry.
Petro Lancaster is a school counselor in-training and a newlywed wife to her husband, Ansen, who is a worship pastor at their church in Ohio. Originating from South Africa and growing up in New Zealand has given Petro a love for all things sport and travel, and a heart for the importance of community. Writing is Petro’s way of making sense of the world around her and expressing the words God places on her heart.