i hate to admit it, but i've recently come out of a yucky period in my mothering. i felt entitled and frustrated and defeated most days, and i knew it, but i just couldn't snap out of it and i couldn't figure out what in the world was wrong with me. no amount of resolve or regret would change anything.
until i decided to combat it with Truth.
i had to sit down and wade through all the muck to determine one basic thing: what lie am i believing? and what is the Truth that will set me free? it's a basic principle i've been learning over the years, but especially through this book. it's the first question we need to ask ourselves for every stronghold, addiction, or pattern of fear or sin in our lives. all of it stems from a lie that we believe.
so for me, in this situation? it was a little toxic cocktail of many lies:
• the lie that life should be easy and smooth.
i had to sit down and wade through all the muck to determine one basic thing: what lie am i believing? and what is the Truth that will set me free? it's a basic principle i've been learning over the years, but especially through this book. it's the first question we need to ask ourselves for every stronghold, addiction, or pattern of fear or sin in our lives. all of it stems from a lie that we believe.
so for me, in this situation? it was a little toxic cocktail of many lies:
• the lie that life should be easy and smooth.
• the lie that children should be simple to raise, they should easily follow and obey instruction.
• the lie that i had to keep up with everyone else and do what they were doing.
• the lie that the business of raising my kids was an obstacle to the better things God had for me to do [i cannot tell you how scary it is to admit this one in black and white]...
but the one that tends to trump them all, in every area of my life at any given time? the lie that i'm not enough. i combat this one often, even in areas where it may seem unrelated. especially in this case, it was hard to nail down because it's not so obvious, but it's really at the root.
every single time, it takes a fresh heaping dose of who i am in Christ to remember that i am enough in every season because really He is enough and He lives in me. and then the most beautiful thing always happens: once i believe i'm enough, accepted just as i am, worth His very life? all of a sudden i have this desire to become MORE. to throw off the old and step into the new, to take action to change and grow, to be different than i was yesterday. because of His Grace alone. He never asked me to be good enough, instead He offers to fill in where i lack.
then i remind myself that instead of believing the lies that are heaped my way every hour, i need to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. i need to make every thought line up with His Word, and flat out reject anything else that wants in.
because i am enough in Him. and you are, too.
• the lie that the business of raising my kids was an obstacle to the better things God had for me to do [i cannot tell you how scary it is to admit this one in black and white]...
but the one that tends to trump them all, in every area of my life at any given time? the lie that i'm not enough. i combat this one often, even in areas where it may seem unrelated. especially in this case, it was hard to nail down because it's not so obvious, but it's really at the root.
every single time, it takes a fresh heaping dose of who i am in Christ to remember that i am enough in every season because really He is enough and He lives in me. and then the most beautiful thing always happens: once i believe i'm enough, accepted just as i am, worth His very life? all of a sudden i have this desire to become MORE. to throw off the old and step into the new, to take action to change and grow, to be different than i was yesterday. because of His Grace alone. He never asked me to be good enough, instead He offers to fill in where i lack.
then i remind myself that instead of believing the lies that are heaped my way every hour, i need to take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. i need to make every thought line up with His Word, and flat out reject anything else that wants in.
because i am enough in Him. and you are, too.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
oh, and here's a resource that i just found and had to share with you: "Core Lies" a free eBook by Sarah Mae. drop everything and read it now...
i always love to see honesty in posts- mostly because we are never alone in our emotions etc but also because of the extreme healing that comes as a result for the reader and the writer! thanks you are not alone!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited you linked to that ebook. I always love reading your heart! :-) Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteGod always leads us to know we are not alone. I had an overwhelming flood of lies take over my mind yesterday morning. Reading your words not only has comforted me and put into perspective the struggle I was having but shows me I am not alone. I wrote down your words "I am enough in Him". I need to read it every day. Thank you for your honesty and sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDelete