Embracing Your “Not Enough”
Ruth Chou Simons on Divine Mercy
In this interview with Ruth Chou Simons on Family Life Radio, she had some real talk about the tension we all feel—wanting to be superwomen but realizing we’re just not. And guess what? That’s not only okay; it’s actually a gift – the gift of knowing we need more. Enjoy the conversation.
Ruth said, “We’re always bombarded with messages saying we should be self-sufficient? Like, just buy this book, take this course and voila, you’re unstoppable.” But Ruth flips the script. She says, “Those are all tools. It’s great. But at the core, when you come up short and you realize at the very basic level, I need a Savior and I can’t overcome, that’s mercy to know that you can have Jesus.”
Ruth admits, “It took me a while to recognize it was such a mercy. When I feel like I’m lacking, it’s His mercy because it’s God being so merciful that I could come to any point in my day and recognize I don’t have what it takes.”
So, the next time you’re drowning in laundry or feeling like you’re failing at this whole mom thing, remember it’s a nudge from God. It’s Him saying, “Hey, you don’t have to be everything because I am.”
Everyday Struggles Are Part of the Journey
Ruth gets it. She says, “It’s the feeling, the inner sense that I don’t have what it takes, and I’m struggling. That causes us to cry out to a God who wants to supply our every need.”
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. And it’s not a sign that you’re failing in your faith. It’s an invitation to lean on God more. Ruth puts it beautifully: “So we would know that He is a provider, if we did have a need, if we didn’t recognize day by day that – I’m not as cool as I think I am. Sometimes I really don’t have what it takes.”
“I need a God who is so much better than my very best.”
No Seminary Degree Required
When it comes to understanding God better, Ruth has some down-to-earth advice. “You don’t have to go to seminary to become a theologian,” she says. Start with the Bible passage you’re reading today and ask, “What does this tell me about who God is?”
Ruth says, “Sometimes we think that it’s our job to learn those things like somebody going to seminary, and they’re going to really understand the deep truths of God’s Word. But the truth is, you and I need to understand why He’s omnipotent, why He is all powerful.”
God describes Himself in His Word. Those are the attibutes of God. Ruth encourages, “There are great Bible studies out there. But going to the Word and on a practical level, if you feel like sometimes you’re, ‘not getting something out of your time in the Word,’ one practical thing is to start by saying, ‘What do I learn about who God is in today’s section that I’m reading, and what other part of the Bible helps me understand this further or understand who He is in fullness?”
Ruth continues, “Because it’s not ever just one verse. It’s understanding who He is as a whole.”
And let’s not forget the power of community. “We were meant to live in community with others talking about who God is, talking about how you’re walking with Him. That makes a big difference,” Ruth adds.
God’s Beauty is Everywhere
Ruth also encourages us to engage with God in more ways than one. “He didn’t have to make a sunrise pink, but He did,” she says. “I think I included hymns in part [of my book, Pilgrim], because I think I created multi-sensory ways of engaging Him on purpose.”
Whether it’s through a hymn that stirs your soul or a walk where you marvel at God’s creation, He’s given us many ways to connect with Him.
So, let’s not limit our faith journey to just Sunday mornings or a quick Bible verse on a sticky note. “I try to engage the Lord and try to grow my faith in multiple ways every day,” Ruth shares. Let’s live it, breathe it and engage with it in all the beautiful ways God has provided.
Let’s embrace these moments as divine nudges, pulling us closer to the One who fills all our gaps with His endless mercy. Because in your “not enough,” you find more of Him. And that’s the most beautiful gift of all.
Ruth Chou Simons is a Wall Street Journal bestselling and award-winning author of several books and Bible studies, including GraceLaced, Beholding and Becoming, and When Strivings Cease. She is an artist, entrepreneur, podcaster and speaker, using each of these platforms to spiritually sow the Word of God into people’s hearts. Through her online shoppe at GraceLaced.com and her social media community, Simons shares her journey of God’s grace intersecting daily life with word and art. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are grateful parents to six boys — their greatest adventure. Learn more at gracelaced.com. Follow Ruth on social https://www.instagram.com/ruthchousimons/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/@RuthChouSimons
https://www.facebook.com/gracelaced/
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