Women Buying Into The Lie "I'm Not Smart Enough" Began With Eve
Am I Smart Enough?
That question has imposed itself as a female issue from the beginning. We see that women longed for wisdom from the first woman. Look at Eve’s story in Genesis 3:6. The serpent lured Eve into a death trap because she longed to be wise.
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:6
It is very interesting to me that the first time we see anything mentioned about wisdom in the Bible is in the presence of the enemy in relation to the fall of mankind.
I cannot help but think that the enemy had placed a “Not Smart Enough” Label on Eve. He caused her to doubt the wisdom God gave her. And apparently, she determined that that the wisdom God gave her was not enough. Because Eve identified with the enemy’s words instead of God’s word, she made a grave mistake that changed everything.
If Satan worked to tell the first woman Eve that she was not smart enough, we can be assured that he is still working on us the same way. The problem is that he has had thousands of years of practice.
How Can We Combat Satan’s Lie?
We combat Satan’s lie the same we stand against every lie he proposes to us, we must know and believe God’s word.
We must know that God has made us smart enough to fulfill His plan and purpose for our life. Does that mean that we don’t study or grow in our wisdom? Absolutely not!
It just means that we start from the standpoint of we were created by God with everything we need regarding wisdom. We have the brain capacity that we need. God instilled in us the capability to learn and grow in wisdom. And the resources we need to learn and grow in the wisdom that God wants for us are available to us.
We are smart enough and equipped to be smart enough!
A Bit Of My Personal Story
When I think back on my life as a student in elementary, junior high, and high school, grades were somewhat important, but definitely not of top priority to me. But the lukewarm attitude I had about good grades also caused me to carry the question, Am I smart enough? with me into my early adult life.
When I met Jesus at 30, I would say, I thought that I was decently smart but not smart enough. At 37 Jesus called me to ministry and sent me to Seminary. This time grades mattered to me. I wanted to make A’s and anything less was not okay with me. Jesus changed my priorities and He changed my beliefs. Jesus made me see that I was smart enough. I could make good grades if I wanted to.
I did not graduate Seminary with a 4.0 but I was close. I graduated with all A’s except 5 B’s. Honestly, I was proud of myself and my accomplishment. The reality is, having those grades really didn’t make a big difference for me in ministry, but achieving good grades helped me to realize that I am smart enough to accomplish the things that matter to me.
Believing We Are Smart Enough
Believing we are smart enough determines how much we can and will grow in wisdom. Believing the lie that we lack some intellectual capabilities or capacity hinders our ability to learn and grow in wisdom. When we buy into Satan’s lie, it potentially can cripple us from even trying to grow in wisdom and knowledge.
Has anyone ever told you that you aren’t smart enough?
Cast that out and know that is not based on truth. That is not from God. Let’s not be like Eve and listen to the wrong thing. She listened to Satan, not God.
Satan is a destroyer of all things good. He wants to destroy your mind and your wisdom. He works to blind our minds from the truth. We see that in Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church when he wrote about those who did not believe in Jesus.
Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe,
lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Corinthians 4:4
No wonder part of God’s armor is the helmet of salvation. We must protect our minds from the enemy’s lies.
Allow me to ask the question, “Has the enemy hindered you from something in your life because you believed that you weren’t smart enough?”
The Truth is:
1) We Have The Mind Of Christ.
For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?"
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16
2) When We Need Wisdom, We Ask And God Gives It.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God,
who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
3) God Gave Us A Tangible Way To Grow In Wisdom.
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
I love that loving Jesus and being filled with His Holy Spirit, even affects our intellect. We are so accustomed to seeing our relationship with God and how it affects us spiritually, but we often overlook the fact that knowing Him impacts every area of our life, including our mind. I believe that knowing and learning the Bible increases us in every aspect of our person: heart, body, mind, and soul. So if we ever feel that we lack in wisdom, knowledge, or understanding, look to God’s word to complete and equip us.
I will leave you with this dear Sister in Christ. God gave you wisdom and gives wisdom generously as you seek Him for wisdom! If you have the mind of Christ, YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH!!!
If you need to wisdom Bible verses to meditate on and pray through, here are 24 Bible verses about God Gives Wisdom.
