Get your FREE faith-based art resources here!
Feeling “Not Enough”? Here’s Why You Don’t Have to Prove Yourself (A Reflection on Colossians 2:10)
I was trying to complete a life… that was already complete in Him.
For a long time, I thought the missing piece in my life was something I had to achieve. I thought that if I worked harder and became better than I was yesterday… maybe then I’d finally feel settled. And I’d eventually feel like I had arrived.
But no matter how much I did, there was always something else to chase. It left me feeling drained. I didn’t realize it at first, but I was looking to my own efforts to give me things they were never meant to give: Wholeness. Peace. A sense that I am already enough.
Then, I came back to the heart-steadying truth in Colossians 2:10:
“…and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
I’m complete in Christ. Not becoming complete. Or almost there. I’m whole right now.
This reality isn’t based on what I’ve done. It’s because of who He is.
Living From Wholeness, Not For It
When we realize we are already complete, everything changes. We no longer have to live or work to plug a gap in our souls. We can create, work, and grow from a place of security rather than a place of lack.
I’ve noticed that I don’t feel like I have to prove as much anymore. Nothing rests on my striving. There’s a sense of peace in knowing that all I’ve been trying to build for myself has already been given to me in Him.
If you’ve felt that weight… the feeling that no matter how much you do, it still isn’t enough… you’re allowed to let it go. You aren’t behind, and you aren’t lacking. You’re already held, known, and made whole.
Behind the Art: The Richness of a Life Held Together by Him
In this piece, I wanted to capture the feeling of true richness found in Jesus. I used a mixed-media torn paper collage aesthetic to show that even when our lives look like a collection of scraps, they are held together perfectly in Christ.
While creating these vintage-inspired doodles, I kept coming back to the idea of more than enough:
- Cute Sheep: To me, the little sheep represents the rest we find in our Shepherd. A sheep doesn’t strive to be complete… it simply trusts the one leading it.
- Dandelion Flowers and Botanical Elements: Dandelions are often seen as simple or ordinary… yet they speak of hope, resilience, and joy. They remind me that the richness of life is often found in the simple, God-given moments.
- Celestial Starbursts, Clouds, and Rainbows: These otherworldly elements remind me of God’s principality and power. He’s the head of everything, yet He chooses to make us complete in Him.
- Junk Journal Penpal Aesthetic: I love this style because it feels like a letter to a friend (or myself). It’s warm, personal, and reminds me that faith is a beautiful, ongoing journey of discovery.
Hand-lettering the faith affirmation quote “rich because i have jesus in my life” was my way of redefining what success looks like. I’m rich not because of what I own, but because of Who I have.
A Simple Reflection for Your Day
- What is one thing you’ve been “chasing” lately to try and feel complete? Take a moment now to tell yourself this, “I am already whole in Christ, and I have everything I need through Him”.
- Where is God inviting you to stop striving and simply rest in His care today?
FAQ: What Does it Mean to be “Complete in Him”?
Does being “complete in Christ” mean I don’t need to grow or improve?
Not at all. It means your worth and right standing with God are already perfected. We grow and learn, from a place of knowing we are already loved and accepted, not to earn our worth. Growth becomes a joyful response rather than a stressful requirement.
How do I rest in this truth when I lead a busy life?
Resting in this truth is a mental shift. It means that while your hands are busy, your heart is at ease. You can work hard… but you do it knowing that your success doesn’t define your worth or value. You are secure and made whole in Him, regardless of the outcome.
Why does Colossians 2:10 mention “principality and power”?
It’s a reminder that Jesus is the highest authority. If the One who is in charge of everything says you are complete, then no other voice… not your inner critic, not the world, not your past… has the right to condemn you, or tell you otherwise.
You Are Already Enough
You don’t have to carry the weight of “not being enough” today. You’re already reconciled, already loved, and already made whole. You can rest in God’s reassurance, just as you are.
— Nicole
A Gentle Invitation
If you’ve been feeling a bit drained by the “hustle” of life, I share a weekly creative reflection and simple journal prompt in my free studio letter. It’s a space to slow down and remember who we are in Christ. You’re so welcome to join us below!
