More than Enough

In the 1990s, the Saturday Night Live character Stuart Smalley looked in the mirror and proclaimed, “I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!” . . . we all laughed.

When we attempt to pump up our kids with similar words, they often laugh, shrug, or outright disagree.

Encouragement along these lines barely ripples the surface of our kids’ deep emotional needs. While it’s important for you, as their chief cheering squad, to plant good thoughts, our kids might still act in disbelief because of low self-esteem, which is at an all-time low in their generation.

Many things in our world tell them they are not good enough, strong enough, popular enough . . .simply not enough. And they often believe those lies.

The word “encouragement” has its roots in the idea of “the core” or “the heart.” Literally, it means pouring heart into someone. But how can we encourage our kids if they automatically file it away as “Dad has to say that” or “You think that because you’re my mom”?

That’s why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11(CEV)

The verse in focus says we need to pour heart into each other, and we do so by pointing to the ultimate source of hope, Jesus. Our kids must learn to hold on to the one who is always more than enough. When they can do that, they will start to see things differently. Their eyes will turn off themselves and onto the one who is worth all the attention. In return, God gives them a fulfilled sense of their true value based on his scales, not the world’s.

So instead of proclaiming, “You are strong enough,” tell them, “God is strong enough.” Instead of, “You are smart enough,” remind them that God promises to give wisdom. Instead of valuing people’s approval, prod them to seek God’s approval.

The challenges of life are more than anyone can handle. Please encourage your children to seek the one who can handle it all and promises to equip us for whatever each day brings.

PRAY

Lord, only you can know the mind and see the heart of my precious child. Please give me the wisdom to know how to encourage them so they will be solid in their confidence in you, the one who will never fail them. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): What are the things you are good at? What are some things you’ve gotten better at in the last year?

Apply: Go around the dinner table and tell each person where you see them growing in the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Psalm 44:3

Hebrews 10:24-25