The Power Within

I have read more than my fair share of self-help books to know that the only people who truly get help from most of them are the authors who write them.  And by help, I mean royalties. 

I know, I'm sounding cynical about this, but hear me out.   

There's a recurring theme among most of these books, as well as the videos and conferences that self-help gurus create: You have the power within you to accomplish whatever you want. 

This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it can get a bit twisted if we're not careful of the messenger.  

Just now, I Googled the phrase "the power within" just to see what came up.  There was a book by the self-help guru Tony Robbins.  There were a couple of movies and a clip from an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants that my kids used to watch, which has become a familiar meme on social media. 

In other words, that particular phrase has become superfluous and kind of a joke.  

It's a nice idea that "the power within" is all that we need to be the people we dream of being, but the reality is that most of us spend our lives comparing ourselves to others or seeking affirmation and acceptance outside of ourselves.  

We live in a world that trains us to look outside ourselves for worth and meaning. From a young age, we're taught to seek approval from parents, teachers, bosses, friends, and even strangers on the internet. 

We hustle for success, climb ladders, chase dreams, and strive for affirmation. We measure ourselves by our productivity, our possessions, our status, and our relationships. And yet, in all that striving, we often remain restless, unsatisfied, and unsure of who we really are.

Barbara Brown Taylor speaks powerfully to this restless longing with these words:

“No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company. All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are.”

What if the love, purpose, and belonging we yearn for isn't “out there,” but already present, buried beneath layers of self-doubt, distraction, and noise? What if we’re standing on the very treasure we’ve been desperately trying to find?

I believe God has always had other ideas for us, despite our wandering eyes.  

Scripture reminds us that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) and that God’s Spirit dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). We were created with sacred intention, not lacking, but full of divine possibility. Through Christ, we are called beloved—not because we’ve earned it, but simply because it is who we are.

Yet we often resist this truth. We carry shame from past mistakes, internalize negative messages, and tell ourselves we're not enough. But God does not see us through the lens of our failures or fears. God sees us through the lens of grace, possibility, and deep love.

Today, let go of the chase. Stop looking outside yourself for what can only be found within. You already have what you need to live a life of meaning, faith, and joy. God has already equipped you with the gifts necessary for the journey.

The invitation is this: Give yourself permission to be where you are. Look inward. Past the noise. Past the wounds. Past the lies. There, you’ll find God waiting—and the treasure you’ve been standing on all along.

You are enough. You are loved. And you are already standing on holy ground.

Prayer
Loving God,
Help me to stop striving for worth in places that cannot give it.
Open my eyes to see the treasure You’ve already placed within me.
Give me the courage to be fully present, to trust Your love,
and to see myself as You see me—whole, beloved, and enough.
Amen.