I remember as a Bible story hearing child, that I held the Bible characters in such high esteem. Thinking most of them were blameless. Perfection is necessary to be a follower of Christ right? The Bible says we are all sinners, but that really applies to only those not sitting in the pews with their noses turned up, I’m sure. (Boy did I have things to learn! 😉 )
When one becomes a mother, one’s sins become much more apparent. First of all, you have a tiny audience that witnesses all your flaws – at EVERY hour of the day (and night). You can see them reflected on their faces. Not to mention they will point them out when they are old enough. (Mommy are you mad?…then why are you yelling?) An extremely humbling experience I assure you.
Motherhood will cause you to come to the end of yourself.
Motherhood requires overflowing patience – something easier spoken than practiced. It requires every skill you have ever acquired, every ounce of energy you never knew you were capable of mustering, and will cause you to come to the end of yourself.
Some days, being a parent takes everything (EVERYTHING) I have. There is nothing left of me to give, and still their needs persist. The enemy is quick to hurl insults, and I am certain I am not cut out for this. But in our weakness, His power is all the more perfected. Our flaws should drive us into the arms of Jesus – the only perfect parent. Maybe this is why He made me a mother in the first place!
Our flaws should drive us into the arms of Jesus – the only perfect parent.
As I got older, and my walk with the Lord matured, I realized the Bible characters I so highly esteemed, were not characters at all. They were REAL people. They had REAL struggles and hardships, and possibly even greater character flaws. When you dig into God’s word, you find that He didn’t select the cream of the crop, best of the best, or most qualified people to carry out His plans. In fact, He chose people that you and I would never have selected.
To name a few: Noah was a drunkard. Abraham told lies. He was much too old. Sarah was barren and she laughed at the promises of God. Issac married the wrong bride. (whoops…) Jacob was repeatedly deceitful. Joseph was a slave who was betrayed by his family. Moses had a speech impediment; he was definitely not eloquent. Oh, and there was that one time he murdered someone….
Naomi was a widow. So was Ruth. David was too small and too young. He had an affair with a married woman, and had her husband murdered to cover it up. Jeremiah was rejected to the point of wishing he were dead.
Hosea married an unfaithful prostitute. Jonah was a prophet, but (in the words of Veggie Tales:) “He really never got it.” That was after he turned tail and ran from the Almighty.
Zachariah did not believe an angel, when he told God’s plans face to face. Mary was pregnant when she got married, and it’s likely everyone knew it. They talked about it while leaving out the divine conception part. (See Mark 6:3 – their referral to Jesus as “Mary’s son” was derogatory, and suggests he was not considered the legitimate son of Joseph by gossiping onlookers. It was proper to refer to a child as the father’s son, and not the mother’s in that day.)
He chose people you and I would have never selected.
John the Baptist was rough to say the least. He lived in the desert, ate insects, and spoke an offensive truth audaciously. Peter made brash decisions. He denied Jesus. Three times to be exact – after he swore he would never to the Messiah’s face.
Lazarus was dead in his grave. The disciples were called uneducated and unqualified by many who heard them speak. They really were a sorry bunch of suckers who messed up an awful lot.
Martha worried. She chose ritual over sustenance – I mean the girl literally choose housework over sitting at Jesus’ feet! Thomas saw, but doubted anyway.
Paul persecuted Christians. He was a voracious murderer. John Mark was rejected by Paul, and it broke up their ministry plans. Timothy had stomach probs. (Paul told him to drink wine for them).
All of these people were flawed, but the Lord chose them.
The most important chosen one of all, our savior Jesus Christ, arguably endured the most hardships of these outmatched individuals. Jesus was called unqualified (a carpenter’s son forgiving sins?). His own family called him crazy. Others called him evil, a glutton, a drunkard, and accused him of blasphemy. Even though he was faultless, he was ridiculed, mocked, and killed. In the only human to ever live without flaw, they found enough fault in for the death penalty. He continues to be mocked and rejected by many today.
ALL of these people were FLAWED (other than Christ himself – who was merely treated as flawed without cause!), but the Lord chose them. He entrusted them with carrying out His will. He used them all for his glorious purposes. There is a great hope found in this truth today for you and me!
In the same way, God chose you to be the mother of your children specifically. He knew you would be here, in this very moment, before He formed you in your mother’s womb. Mama, you were hand formed and chosen! He alone knows what you really need to be equipped for this crazy amazing thing called motherhood. (Most of all, more of HIM).
God chose you to be the mother of your children specifically.
If you are flawed and outmatched in what the Lord has called you to do (like being a mama), you are amongst good company! 😉
His grace abounds when we seek Him.
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Tiffany
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