How often have I asked myself this question: Am I good enough?
But maybe the better question is: Who’s bar am I trying to reach? And good enough for who?
Life is full of rules and expectations. Break them and you’re judged. Think differently and you’re labelled. Everyone has an opinion. Parents, leaders, laws, even religion – all raising bars we’re supposed to live up to. And if we don’t, we’re cast aside as failures, outcasts, even immoral.
No wonder depression and suicide are so widespread. The latest stats say 264 million people worldwide suffer from depression.
That’s not just a statistic – that’s a global crisis.
So what if we take our eyes off what people think and focus on what God thinks? Do I have to earn His love? Do I have to become perfect before He’ll accept me? Isn’t that an even higher bar?
Here’s the tension: in every religion, people are never good enough unless their works get them there. The idea is that if we do enough – pray enough, sacrifice enough, behave well enough, follow the right path – we might climb closer to whatever higher plane exists.
• In Buddhism, it’s following the Eightfold Path.
• In Hinduism, it’s discipline to reach moksha (release from rebirth).
• In Islam, it’s obedience and good deeds that lead to paradise.
• In Norse and Greek mythology, it was fighting, sacrificing, and striving to win the favour of gods who often toyed with people instead.
All of them require us reaching up.
All of them except one.
The Christian story is unique. It doesn’t start with us climbing higher – it starts with God coming down. In Jesus, God steps into the mess Himself. He doesn’t wait for us to be “good enough.” He meets us where we are.
But what about the Ten Commandments, or all those rules? Doesn’t breaking them mean we’re doomed to fire and torment? Many people see it this way. I think that’s upside down.
There are two truths that change everything for me.
First, Jesus taught that eternal life comes through believing in Him, not through our works. The thief on the cross proves it – he had nothing to offer but simple faith, and Jesus promised him paradise that same day.
Second, God has always worked through flawed people. Perfection has never been the requirement. Look through Scripture:
• Noah witnessed God’s judgment and mercy in the flood yet dishonoured himself in drunkenness.
• Abraham heard God’s promise yet lied and tried to force it his own way.
• Moses met God at the burning bush yet murdered in anger and misrepresented Him.
• David was called a man after God’s heart yet took another man’s wife and life.
• Peter walked on water and saw Jesus’ glory yet denied Him three times.
• The disciples lived with Jesus for three years yet argued, slept, and fled.
Every one of them knew better. They saw God’s hand, heard His voice, experienced His power – and still failed.
And in every case, their failure wasn’t just a slip – it was putting self over God. Fear over trust. Pride over humility. Anger over patience. Idolatry over faithfulness.
None of them were perfect. And yet God worked with them, loved them, and included their stories – flaws and all – to show us that no one is perfect.
And maybe that’s the point: the story was never about their strength. It’s about God’s grace.
Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father except through me.”
He came down. He carried what we couldn’t. He paid the price for our sin and imperfection.
That’s why He could look at a condemned thief, moments from death, and say: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Not because of that thief’s lifetime of achievement, but because of his one act of faith – a broken man reaching out.
So maybe the real question isn’t “Am I good enough?”
Maybe the real question is, “Is Jesus enough?”
And if the answer is yes, the weight of “being good enough” finally lifts.
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Author:
Rudy Labordus
Hi, I’m the writer behind Messy Clay — someone just like you, full of questions, awe, and wonder.
This isn’t a place for perfect answers. It’s a space for honest words from the middle of the mess we call life. If you’ve ever felt like you’re still being formed — cracks, rough edges and all — and left with more questions than answers, I hope you’ll feel right at home here.
I’d love for you to get involved — leave a comment, say hello, wrestle with these thoughts. As iron sharpens iron, maybe we can grow together.
Old Testament
• Adam and Eve literally walked with God in the garden yet disobeyed His one clear command.
• Noah witnessed God’s judgment and mercy in the flood yet dishonoured himself in drunkenness.
• Abraham heard God’s promise yet lied and tried to force it his own way.
• Sarah received God’s promise of a son yet laughed in disbelief and mistreated Hagar.
• Isaac grew up in Abraham’s shadow yet repeated his father’s cowardly lie.
• Rebekah knew God’s choice yet schemed to manipulate the blessing.
• Jacob was promised God’s inheritance yet deceived and grabbed what was already his.
• Esau held God’s blessing yet despised it and sold it for stew.
• Joseph was given dreams from God yet flaunted them in arrogance.
• Moses met God at the burning bush yet murdered in anger and misrepresented Him.
• Aaron heard God’s law yet built a golden calf.
• Miriam saw God confirm Moses’ authority yet rebelled against him.
• Joshua won by God’s hand yet made alliances without asking Him.
• Gideon saw God’s signs yet doubted again and led Israel into idolatry.
• Samson was set apart yet chased lust and broke his vows.
• Samuel was raised in God’s presence yet failed his own sons.
• Saul was anointed king yet disobeyed and twisted worship.
• David was called a man after God’s heart yet took another man’s wife and life.
• Solomon was granted wisdom yet bowed to idols.
• Elijah called down fire yet ran in fear.
• Elisha carried God’s Spirit yet cursed in anger.
• Jonah was God’s prophet yet fled and sulked at His mercy.
New Testament
• Peter walked on water and saw Jesus’ glory yet denied Him three times.
• James & John lived closest to Jesus yet craved power and revenge.
• Thomas heard Jesus predict His resurrection yet demanded proof.
• Matthew knew the Scriptures yet betrayed his people as a tax collector.
• Paul (Saul) mastered the Law yet persecuted Christians.
• Barnabas saw the Spirit at work yet caved under pressure.
• Mark witnessed the mission yet abandoned it.
• The disciples lived with Jesus for three years yet argued, slept, and fled.
1 Comment
Grace
August 23, 2025 at 8:09 amHey Rudy. Love this and look forward to more.