Unburden YourselfSýnishorn
Self-condemnation is a burden.
Sometimes we can condemn ourselves so regularly that we don’t give God a chance to either convict or comfort us. At times in my motherhood journey, I’d lie in bed in the evenings and replay all my less-than-perfect moments.
Where I’d lost my temper, not measured up, was too lazy or too distracted. Before God, I berated myself for my imperfections and promised Him I’d be better tomorrow. This was my strategy for becoming a better mom: tell myself how awful I was so I’d be encouraged to be better.
This is a demoralizing life strategy that also doesn’t work. I didn’t receive God’s comfort because I wasn’t even praying. I was simply listing all my faults and imperfections to God to let Him know I was on the case. I’d do better tomorrow! I said, “I know, I know. I was bad, the kids deserve better, and you are disappointed in me.”
I was the judge, jury, and executioner at my own trial. I wasn’t even repenting with these diatribes because most of the things I was browbeating myself over weren’t even sins! I never gave God a chance to speak life to me, strengthen me, or let me know I was, in fact, human.
It wasn’t until I realized I was not relying on God’s power but on my own that I was able to make changes - to stop expecting perfection from myself, then whipping myself before God to prove I knew I was not good enough. I started going to Him in prayer honestly and genuinely to receive comfort and direction from Him - to give Him a chance to speak into my life without pushing Him away.
From this place, I learned to receive comfort and direction. I learned to differentiate between relentless self-condemnation and the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance.
We hope you enjoyed this study! For FREE resources and to learn more about Rachel Norman, please visit https://amotherfarfromhome.com/if-mama-aint-happy/
About this Plan
Attention, overburdened Mama! Mom life is hard in our modern culture. This plan will help you distinguish between true guilt and conviction from God versus false guilt and condemnation from your unrealistic standards. If you feel like life is win/lose (either the kids win and I lose, or I win and the kids lose), then dive into God’s Word and stop living in bondage.
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