Today is the last post of the month in my series, “Lies Moms Believe.” (I’ll be sharing two guest post winners from my contest! I just could not pick one. So many were excellent.)
Today’s “lie” is : “If I could just get it together, God would love me more.”
This last “lie” really hit me this week, when I was knee-deep in my decluttering rampage. I came across a book I’d read in college. It was nearly 15 years ago, but I could still remember a portion of it so clearly. The book is called “The Discipline of Grace
The part I remembered so clearly was this. He describes two different days. Day 1: you wake up early, do your devotion, pray, spend time in the Word, etc. Later on someone asks you about your faith, and you are thrilled to share, because, you know you’re ready, and God’s with you.
Contrast with Day 2. You wake up late and grumpy, slack off on your work and Bible reading. Someone asks you again about your faith.
Which day would you feel God’s blessing? Of course, the first day! We’d feel more “prepared,” and like God would bless us in our work.
I can rewrite this story quite well, Motherhood Style.
Because oh boy, do I have days (more often than not) when I wake up late, selfish, and grumpy. I’ve not cracked a Bible or said a prayer. And here I am, in front of these children, trying to love them and all. And I feel very incompetent, like God is as annoyed at me as I am. I feel sup-par, like a spiritual slacker, and doubtful that God will use me in my children’s lives to be a blessing.
At the root of it, I feel like I need to do something to receive God’s blessing on my life. As Jerry Bridges explains (“The Discipline of Grace
It doesn’t depend on how spiritual we are.
It doesn’t depend on the good things we’ve done.
It doesn’t depend on “how spiritually” together we feel, at any given moment.
It’s His grace, from beginning to end.
I’m becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the role of “Christian blogger,” because what a grave and serious thing it is to claim to be a teacher of God’s word. (Translation of this: I wrote this post, and started feeling uncomfortable. Is this really God’s word? Is this the real truth, or am I just relaying my personal feelings?)
So I sat down with my Bible, and I researched it. What is God’s love like?
Here is what I found. You can be the judge.
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. – Ephesians 2:4-5
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. Jeremiah 31:3
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1-2
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:10
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. Titus 3: 4-5
Do you get the point yet? It is not that our sins are overlooked or forgotten. They are costly.
But Someone Bore Them All.
And rest assured, friends, this theological truth is not lost on Mothers Who Sleep In, who get snippy with their husbands and eat way too much chocolate while avoiding the load of dishtowels.
He loved us at our worst. When we were useless to Him, he loved us. He paid the price.
Mamas, I’ve gotten high on my pedestal about a lot of things this month. In this 31-Day series we’ve talked a lot about How To Be Better. How to stop yelling. How to be a better wife. How to put our children first. How to guard our speech and unclutter our closets.
How to. How to. How to.
May we always strive to be better. To know Him better. May we always.
But may we know, in our deepest heart of hearts, THAT WE ARE LOVED in our pathetic as-is condition, because of our Lord Jesus. There is nothing we can do to be more loved, or less loved.
“Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.” (Jerry Bridges)
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I had to re-write this, “Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.” (Jerry Bridges)
I think as mothers, wives, friends, sisters and lets not forget…believers we need a constant reminder of the quote above (and of course God’s words) because we get caught up with all those lies mentioned in your series. How many times have I thought, God doesn’t love me because I have failed Him and because I haven’t opened my bible or prayed recently. But the truth is He does. He loves me and you! He loves…period! Engrave it in your hearts and minds that no matter what your life entails He loves us!
“When we were useless to Him, he loved us” … Wow, this really jumped out at me. When I read it, I felt like I got hit right in the stomach! Haha! It was as if the Lord was saying, “Yes. Read this. Get this. This is for you.” Thank you for sharing and for being so open and real.
Sending love and hugs from a fellow sister in Christ.
Jessica, thank you so much for sharing your heart this month. I havebidentified with nearly every post. Thank you, especially, for the reminder that through it all, even if we are unable to meet the worlds standards, His grace is enough.