Do you ever beat yourself up emotionally?
I do.
Even before I get out of the bed in the morning sometimes.
I wake up and “it” comes to mind. That thing I did or said – again.
“Guilty” pours over me like a film. The heaviness of being disappointed in me is almost suffocating.
Lingering in thought. Not taking it anywhere. IGNORING THE POWER OF THE CROSS.
Consuming heavy doses of guilt for past and present failings.
All the while, God’s overflowing cup of GRACE sits in front of me.
Why don’t we pick up the cup of GRACE first? Why do we choose the punching bag?
What a waste of time. Pointless Personally-inflicted Pain.
FINALLY, I stop punching, “God, I’m so sorry. Why do I keep messing up?”
Because you are weak. But I AM strong. Bring your weakness to the cross.
A tall glass of GRACE.
Holding us in the palm of His hand, God reveals our failings for us to own and bring to Him. To help us through. To love us through. To freedom.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103.8-14)
Holy God,
Help us believe how much You love us and how thoroughly you forgive us. Help us love and forgive our children and reflect your goodness to us. Amen.
Shannon Milholland (@shanmilholland) says
Just this morning I shared on FB that I heard my youngest singing Jesus loves me except her version was Jesus loves me when I’m bad. Jesus loves me when I’m good. How much we need to let that truth seep deep into our hearts!
Teresa says
Hi Shannon,
For some reason your comment just showed today! Thank you for sharing this. How very true! I continue to pray for this as well. My heart smiles knowing that this truth is in your youngest child already. What a great job you are doing. And thanks so much for reading. It means a lot.
Teresa
Linda Grabeman says
Oh, Teresa, how true that is for us as women, and even more, as mothers! I join in your hearty thanks for the freedom that Jesus calls us to enjoy…and also acknowledge how quick I am to run back to those self-applied chains. Help us daily, even hourly precious Lord!
Teresa says
“Self-applied chains” – what a great visual, Linda. I love how you write. Always good to hear from you.
Amy Mulvaney says
Ok. Do you read my mind every day?! Always so inspiring and right on target! Thank you, Teresa!
Teresa says
Ha! No, just sharing my life. Thanks for letting me know I’m not alone. I know you, Amy, and you are an amazing mom. Thanks so much for writing.