Good Enough

It's amazing how one person's words, while positive in intent and directed at another, can cause hurt. Has this has happened to you? Someone else is praised for their outstanding work (and deservedly so) but it makes you feel lesser?

This past weekend my work team put our "product" out in public. An outsider publicly gushed over the team leader (who really is amazing), but completely ignored the existence of the rest of the team. As one of the ignored ones, it hurt. And I shouldn't let it get to me, but it's bringing up old feelings of not being important and not being good enough. It's really affecting me more than I care to let on.

I often feel this way in the writing world too. Another writer posts on social media about their success--they got an agent or won a contest or signed a book deal. And I'm over here jealous and feeling like I'll never be good enough.

But I need to stop. That writer who scored the book deal took many years of hard work and rejection before they got there. I'm slowly growing and progressing. I think I'll have my time eventually too.

My team leader really is the key component in our team's success. He's well ahead of me in his career. His leadership is unequivocal. I am growing. I can get there too. There have been many, many others who have praised the whole team. One guy running his mouth shouldn't bother me.

And then, there's the other aspect of this. I might not yet be where others are who are receiving praise, but I am important now. I am worth something now. There are things I'm great at now.

The whole thing makes me think of a Christian song that's popular at the moment. I've been hearing it on the radio for months now, but I just recently started listening to the lyrics. I think God gave me these lyrics to prepare me for where I am right now. And you know what? I'm even starting to feel a little better just writing this post and thinking about these words.

The song is Lauren Daigle's "You Say."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI

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

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 that I am Yours,
And I believe, oh I believe
What You say of me.
I believe.

I hope someone out there reads this post and finds hope in where they are right now. Sure, you might not be at the same point as someone else who is publicly receiving praise, but you're worth something now. Maybe one day you'll reach the goal you've set for yourself, but don't forget to find joys in the present. And at the very least, know that God loves you now. Has always loved you and will love you forever, no matter where you believe you are right now. And I think you're pretty great too since you took the time to read some words that I wrote. Thanks.