Okay, So I Mess Up! (Welcome, Opportunity)
If you’ve been following my writing for long, you’ve heard me mention that I mess up sometimes … well, okay, I mess up a lot. In my marriage, in raising my children, in my Spiritual life.
God says do not envy … I do. Dr. James Dobson says not to yell at your children … I do. The Apostle Paul and a host of marriage experts admonish wives to show respect to our husbands … even when he doesn’t deserve it? Another one I struggle with!
But I’m certain I’m not the only one who falls flat on her (or his) face occasionally … or maybe daily (Multiple times in a day, anyone?).
And I’m equally certain there is always hope. Each time we fall is another opportunity to get back up.
Each mess-up unveils a lesson. Each bout of self-condemnation is countered by God-assurance that indeed we may not have what it takes but God does.
We will continue to mess up, but each mess up is met by grace and unveils a lesson. Click To Tweet
God loves us not because of what we can accomplish, but because we are His child. His love never runs out; it does not have an expiration date. We can fail an infinite number of times and God will still be there to forgive and offer us strength and guidance.
God's love never runs out; it does not have an expiration date. He is there to forgive and offer us guidance! Click To Tweet
Oh the sweetness of grace!
And that’s the reason for this blog: to be open about my struggles, so you can feel less alone in yours, and to share the hope I’ve found in the Lord’s abounding grace. Not just the hope for eternal salvation, which is a treasure beyond measure, but the daily assurance that we are not alone.
I pray my words encourage you in developing a dynamic and intimate relationship with the Lord.
“But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abundant in faithful love and truth” (Psalm 86:15).
Reflection: How do you typically mess up? Do you struggle with accepting grace when you do?
And praise God! I’ve penned and typed more than 2,500 expressions of thanks since I began keeping track on August 23, 2011! Three a day, that’s what Ann said. Just three a day will add up to more than one thousand in a year. One thousand praises. One thousand gifts given back to a God more gracious than can ever be imagined. What a blessing!
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6).
Linking up again this year with Ann Voskamp’s 2014 Joy Dare. Find the linkup at A Holy Experience. Beginning where I left off in 2013. What a blessing! #2481–2501, read the entire list by clicking here.
- Safely home on nasty roads; Amazing youth who continue to challenge themselves; Suspect tire that kept air in it for 160 miles–thank you, Lord!
- Visiting with an amazing woman who loves to help teenagers succeed; Rach resting her head on my shoulder; A productive IEP meeting
- Ratcheting sound of a woodpecker in the morning calm; Turkey hanging in bushes off our deck; Quiet peace just before bed
- The hope reflected in a flickering candle; Honor of praying for loved ones; Smokey scent of our woodstove = warmth
- Quiet house for the day’s work; Sparkle of the snow in the headlights; Online Bible sites for easier study and editing
- Two bald eagles gliding overhead; Watching Zach and his friends perform well at district speech contest; Good roads tonight
- Free access to approaching God in worship and petition; Sledding before the blizzard; Living, dynamic nature of God’s Word
By His grace ≈ Julie
Find hope in your real-life struggles. We'll chase it together! I am a wife; mom of 4 (including a young adult daughter with special needs); miscarriage mom of 5; author & follower of Jesus Christ. I write, edit, speak and enjoy everything outdoors.
The reminder of God’s endless grace is sweet. Knowing that even during our mess-ups God is their to pick up is amazing grace. Coming to you from Ann’s counting your blessings link up. Have a blessed day! Mary
Glad you came over, Mary. Happy blessing counting!
You asked: “Reflection: How do you typically mess up? Do you struggle with accepting grace when you do?”
How do “I” typically “mess up?” TONS of different ways! They are mostly too personal or identifying to list on the ‘net though. However, the ones I can share are:
* Need to attend Sunday worship on a regular basis for sure
* Need to be a better steward of many different things than I am currently
* Need to control my anger better, and not lash out when it is sparked, but rather be SLOW TO ANGER
* Want to do some Bible Study teaching at my church, as I am qualified to do so…
*Want to gather some blog followers on MY blog, “www.achristiansmusings.wordpress.com” Sorry if I wasn’t supposed to post that URL 🙁 !
* Really, really want to communicate to the entire world, including the “Christian World,” regarding some personal thoughts about the Scriptures.
Also, you mention: “The Apostle Paul and a host of marriage experts admonish wives to show respect to our husbands … even when he doesn’t deserve it? I struggle with this one. Boy, do I struggle!”
Yep, even when he doesn’t deserve it. If you took (basically) the same marriage vows that I did, and since you are a Christian I assume you probably did, you did agree to “for better or worse….” Well, sometimes it is worse, and sometimes it is better. God takes us through our good and our bad, and I believe he expects us to “take” our spouses through their good and their bad as well.
Of course it is difficult. But are easy things really worth working toward? It is that which comes with a higher “price” of our labors that is worth having, much more so than that which we may easily attain…
k, that’s all I got, except to say that indeed we are all human, and we certainly all mess up. God’s grace IS sufficient!
Be Blessed!
~S~
So glad you chose to share some of your thoughts, Sean! You have some great goals to “grow” into. For me, respecting my husband is something I am always striving toward. With God’s help I can extend grace to him as the Lord so willingly does to me.
May you be blessed as you walk out God’s story in your life.