It’s important to remember that no one is perfect and our life will never be this perfect image of a home structured completely around God. We do live in a fallen world, so it’s easy to create havoc and see others doing the same when we thought we were obeying God. So let’s start off giving ourselves grace when we fall short, right there! 

When we fall short and mess up, the world expects us to channel our frustration into victimhood. I have been guilty of this far too many times. Our selfishness tempts us to turn away from God out of bitterness or embarrassment, and live for ourselves instead.

God has a better way. 

With obedience comes blessings. We can see many examples of this in the Bible. God explains it in Matthew 16:24-26 “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”.

What I learned from this is, instead of being bitter, turn away from your shortcomings and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to righteousness. Sometimes this sounds a lot easier than it is. Our lives and routines and overconsume our thoughts and our days, but if we want to get out of the rut or funk we are in, we have to push through and turn to Jesus.

For me, this looks like letting myself recognize my situation and feel the emotions that come with it for a short time. Then I look at the big picture. I get to praying and opening the word. And get back to what God has me doing right now as a mother and a wife. Our children need us to be willing to set aside some of our desires to care for them. Being obedient in this way allows me to receive grace in a whole new way. 

What does that look like for you?