Mother not Messiah

I would’ve scoffed if you said it outright. “Abbey, you’re meant to be their Mama, not their Messiah.” Well, of course, I KNOW THAT! Except I wasn’t living like I knew that. I felt like a failure when I couldn’t measure up to the perfect mom in my mind. The one who always served home-cooked meals in a clean house and her tone never shifted from patient and gracious. “That“ mom never yelled and her mood was peaceful, unshakable. She never disappointed her children, and always knew just what to say- she could see to their very hearts. I failed to be that mom hour after hour, it seemed.

Maybe you’ve experienced that, too?

We have this imaginary mom in our mind and we don‘t realize, she looks a lot like a savior.

I was striving to be something to my children that I was never designed to be: a perfect, unshakable, infallible being; their source of peace, joy and wholeness. While we should absolutely strive to grow in grace, and godliness, bearing the fruits of the Spirit, we ought to keep watch over our hearts. Do we seek to be fruitful for our own glory, or the glory of God?

Are we working on these things in order to set an example and love others well? Or are we obsessed with perfection because we desire the praise, pride, admiration and the ease we believe it offers? Oh, the ease of a guiltless life!

Except there has only ever been one guiltless life, and it certainly wasn’t defined by ease.

In fact, that one guiltless Life took on all of our guilt and shame and nailed it to the cross. The wrath of God poured out, dying in order to save.

Perhaps, we genuinely and humbly desire to grow in goodness and godliness, only to succumb to the voice of 'the accuser' when we falter and fail. The shame and guilt seem almost too much to bear. (It is, it was, for us.) But Jesus bore the full weight of all our sin and shame as He hung nailed to the cross, so that now, when God looks to those who have confessed and believed, He sees the righteousness of Jesus. Although we are feeble and sinful, marred by our true nature, we have been cleansed and tenderly adorned with the righteousness of Jesus.

Our true Messiah and Savior paid the ultimate price, so that we might be able to rest in Him, and His finished work.

He has not called us to be perfect, but he has equipped us to be fruitful and effective. No, we aren't messiah or savior, so we will point them to the One who is!

What a gift that even in our faltering and failing we can point them to the One who does not falter or fail. When we disappoint and fall short, we can proclaim the One who loves them perfectly and completely, even more than we are capable of.

So in our good works, God will be magnified and in our weakness His power made perfect. Hallelujah, that He covers all of our motherhood.

He is the One and only Savior our children will ever need, the Savior of our very soul. That is some of the very best news of motherhood.

Today, as you seek to love and serve your Husband and your children keep watch over your heart. If you feel weary with the weight of failure or the demands of your duties, ask who you are truly working for and who you are seeking to glorify. Take your burdens to the gentle Shepherd and rejoice in the freedom of abiding in Christ for the sake of His glory alone.