Review of You Are Not Enough and That’s Okay by Allie Beth Stuckey
A popular saying today is “You are enough.” While in theory, this sounds great, it is not theologically accurate. Romans 3:23 explicitly tells us that we are all sinners deserving of death. The Bible teaches that if we disobey the law even once, we are guilty of breaking it all. None of us are perfect. This is why we need a Savior. I think when some people say “I am enough,” what they really mean is “I am loved just the way I am.” The two statements, however, are not interchangeable.
Allie Beth Stuckey expounds on this truth in her book, You Are Not Enough and That’s Okay. She speaks with honesty and integrity. She says, “We’ve spent our lives prioritizing ourselves, our wants, and our happiness, and guess what. We’re still not happy” (Stuckey, p. 7). She suggests the reason for our unhappiness is related to our focus on ourselves. We need to focus on ourselves less and place our attention on God.
Stuckey dispels 5 myths:
1. You are enough.
2. You determine your truth.
3. You’re perfect the way you are.
4. You’re entitled to your dreams.
5. You can’t love others until you love yourself.
I’ve heard several of these statements spoken by Christians who mean well but haven’t really thought about the implications of these words. We know that truth remains the same; if it is true and some situations and not true in others, it ceases to be true. If we are perfect, then there is no need for justification, much less sanctification. Our entitlement mentality is selfish; God called us to work in Genesis before the Fall. Work is good for us; it is healthy.
Lastly, we may “hate” certain aspects of ourselves, but most of us are consumed with self. We feed our bodies. We shower, and we dress. Most of us take time to do the daily tasks required to care for our bodies. When the Bible says love your neighbor as yourself, it isn’t telling us we need to learn to love ourselves better — in fact, it is saying the opposite. Philippians 2:3-4 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
This book is an excellent read for people who aren’t perfect and need encouragement. It normalizes our struggles and offers hope from God’s Word. We need to take care of ourselves, but we do not need to think of ourselves as higher than we are. I highly recommend this book.