IT'S LESS ABOUT US AND MORE ABOUT HIM

Motherhood, with its beautiful highs and challenging lows, has presented a whole new arena of struggles to me (Britt). When my firstborn daughter came into this world, it was like an unseen weight of perfectionism settled onto my shoulders and gave me a heavy burden I hadn’t had before, a burden I tend to still carry. The constant attempts to hit the impossible standards set around motherhood have been both draining and elusive. . . .

The allure of perfection is hard to resist. It promises us admiration, respect, control, and perhaps even a sense of personal fulfillment. . God values authenticity, a heart willing to be mended and used by the very hands that fashioned us. Once I’m willing to give myself permission to fail and to not show up perfectly, I’m then able to see His grace and strength woven into each aspect of my being a mother.

A guiding principle for me personally, especially in the realm of motherhood, is this verse that I hold so near to my heart: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ ” (2 Corinthians 12:9). God delights in using our weaknesses, so much so that his strength is made perfect in our weakness. It’s less about us and more about Him. We see this play out time and time again in the Bible.

Just look at the apostle Paul, who was instrumental in spreading Christianity. He didn’t shy away from his shortcomings. Instead, he used them to demonstrate God’s strength.

Then there’s Jacob, who, after an intense encounter with God, was left with a limp. This mark, a physical reminder of his struggle, also stood as a testament to his encounter with the almighty God. It wasn’t Jacob’s strength but his vulnerability that brought him closer to God.

Gideon is another beautiful example. Despite seeing himself as weak, God saw him as a mighty warrior. It was when Gideon put aside his self-doubt and embraced God’s vision that he stepped into his purpose.

The pattern is clear: God’s focus isn’t on our perfection but on a heart yielded to Him.

Prayer

Father, I know I am not perfect, but I am beginning to understand that You don’t require my perfection. I want to yield my heart to You so that I can better serve You. Amen.