I often don’t feel good enough. How do I grow when the voice of shame is so convincing?

This really is a perennial human battle, and some people have it a little bit more than others. This contrast in competition between the voice of shame which says, "You are not okay, you are not good enough." And the voice of God, for those who are united with him, God says, "You are, in fact, okay, as you are united with me and my Son. You are loved, and you are worthy, and you are valuable. You are okay."

So this is the perennial battle, and the question is, What does the journey look like? What does the work of faith look like in this? There's probably two things I would focus on.

One is the voice of shame wants to bully its way to being the only voice in the room. And so part of the journey and part of the work is bringing in an alternative. The voice of God may not be as loud as you want it to be at first. But it will gain in volume, and it is a better voice. It is a more true voice. But some of that work is going to be bringing the voice of God and keeping it front and center. That could be everything from memorizing Scripture to listening to songs to conversing with faithful friends. But, keep that voice front and center. That is a work of faith.

Then, the second thing is that the voice of shame wants you to act in accordance with the fact that you are no good. That's what it wants you to believe and it wants you to act that way. "Don't have an opinion, don't have a voice, don't minister, don't serve. Don't be a part of fellowship and friends. Don't ask for help." The voice of God, on the other hand, if we live in consistency with it, and if we believe it, even if it doesn't always feel like it's true, if we act as if it is and trust in God with it, then we will pursue having a voice, an opinion, a preference. We will believe we are worthy to minister on his behalf, to love others, and to ask for help.