I Was A Guilty Mom

When our children were young, I honestly think I spent half my time feeling guilty about something.  If they were sick, I was sure it was my fault.  If they misbehaved, it was my fault.  Was I disciplining them correctly or was I ruining them?  If I finally ran out of patience and yelled at them, would they be forever damaged?  I pretty much felt a constant weight of “I’m probably doing this all wrong”.   

The weight of condemnation.

*satan's job description is the “accuser of the brethren”. {Revelation 12:10}  He accuses us of, well… just about anything we allow him to whisper in our ear.  And as moms, we seem to be prime real estate for his accusations…

You're failing as a mom.

You’re ruining your children.

I can’t believe you did that.

You’ll never be any different.
I can't believe your husband puts up with you.
I can’t believe you said that to your daughter.
I can’t believe you yelled at your son like that.
You’ll never be any better than you are… a loser.

satan is the father of lies and is expert at weaving 
a good story of shame and hopelessness.

“...He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."

John 8:44 NLT

satan condemns.  And it’s awful.
Condemnation is like a heavy black weight

that sits on our shoulders and in our hearts.

It focuses on the sin.
It says you’re alone in this mess.
It says you don’t deserve forgiveness.
It says your sin’s too big and dirty to be forgiven.
It causes you to hide yourself from God in fear and shame.
It says God is an angry judge just waiting for you to mess up.
It says you’ll never change and you’re not worthy of God’s love.
It causes you to focus so much on yourself that you lose sight of God. 

To those who have been redeemed by the 
precious blood of Jesus, condemnation is an impossible lie. 

satan condemns.  God's grace convicts.

I'm so thankful that somewhere along the way,

 our Abba Father (and my sweet husband)

helped me realize this life-altering truth!

   

    Because we are in Christ Jesus, 

we. are. different!

"There is no condemnation to them,

 which are in Christ Jesus, who walk 

not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Romans 8:1
 

Conviction reveals our sin. It brings Godly sorrow and leads us to repentance.

"Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads 
to  salvation and leaves no regret, 
but worldly sorrow brings death."

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

              
Conviction always shows us the problem.... and the solution.

Conviction reminds us that we are loved, even when we mess up. 
 

Conviction is life-giving!

Conviction stings.  But it also soothes. 

Conviction always points us to God, His forgiveness, His discipline, and His love.

"If we confess our sins, He is 

faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

1 John 1:9 

Yes, as moms, we mess up... sometimes badly.  When we confess our sin with sincere sorrow, we receive His beautiful, redeeming forgiveness.  Do we bear the consequences of our actions and words?  You bet we do.  
But in Christ Jesus, the consequence is never condemnation!
We don't have to allow satan to bind us up
in a prison of shame, despair and guilt.  

The door has been thrown open.

We've been set free!
Hallelujah!

"The Lord sets prisoners free..."

Psalm 146:7 

*I don't believe satan deserves a capital s!

   Have you ever felt the weight and guilt of condemnation?

Do you find it easy or hard to tell the difference between condemnation and conviction?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Leave a comment!

 Living in His grace,

  Mary  
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