Don't forget you need grace too.

Grace is something you can give yourself too! Something so simple that we tend to forget. I feel very strongly about this. We are often hardest on ourselves, expecting too much like we should be able to operate at a level we would never expect others to be able to perform at. Especially we women. We are the queens of multitasking that we tend to think we should do all the things all the time. Am I right?

We often get caught up in the trap of comparison, wanting to keep up our image on Instagram or Facebook, even amid this pandemic. We pressure ourselves to do more crafts, have the best homeschool center, make the most Instagram worthy meals, and do everything the same way everyone else does. But what would you tell your friend if you saw her trying to achieve all this but not measuring up? Would you tell her to cut herself a break (Grace)? I Would!

I had to fall flat on my face, reaching a point where my life felt truly out of control before I learned to give myself grace. Did you hear that? I had to LEARN to give myself grace. This was not something that came naturally to me in any way. Why is that? Why do we feel that we need to be stronger than everyone in the room?

We hear people say that the devil is a liar. A liar who tells us that we are not good enough but that's, not the only way he lies to us. He tells us lies like we need to try harder, be stronger, don't feel, feel more, do more, and so on! All those things are ways the devil can attack us. You see I was once told, “If the devil can’t stop you, he will get behind you and push you so hard you burn out”. We need to constantly remind ourselves that our strength and purpose is found in Jesus, not in our achievements. We were never meant to do life alone and we are not designed to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders. Those worries and struggles were meant to be handed over to the maker.

Friends, Its okay to not be okay. Just recently I cried, not for a moment but for a couple of days. I was sad and to deny that would be silly. I would be lying to myself. And we all know that's not going to solve any of my issues. I was upset about the way the school year ended for my children. They were missing their friends and only talking to the teachers they had finally gotten comfortable with through Zoom calls. I was stretched beyond measure as any parent and things just kept piling up. This season has truly stretched our family in ways that I never could have imagined. We have learned how to deal with the disappointments of school, life, and constant challenges while learning the lessons of patience. (Courtesy of our little lady.) Learning to genuinely enjoy the present and all that God has blessed us with while giving myself and those around me grace. Roll with the punches and learn to laugh at yourself.

Grace has given me the freedom to be okay with simply not being okay. Grace helped me realize that perfection is only found in Christ. Grace gave me the revelation that my reliance on Christ is a beautiful thing, making me stronger as I continue to discover him while accepting my dependency on Him. Remember God has it under control, so we do not have to. He has it under control friend!

I am not here to tell you it's all going to be fine and we all know the end. But it doesn't always feel that way all the time. I know. So with the truth planted in our hearts, I am here to tell you if you are sad? Cry! Are you angry? Be angry! It is ok to be angry. Are you being tested? You will pass the test! If you fail. Take it again!

Does life suck right now? Maybe it does, and if it does, I believe you! But it is okay.

Jesus’ grace is a gift and it is not a gift found in getting it all right, but found just accepting that we need it. Take your grace, cry your tears, and stop trying to figure it out. Sometimes we are just surviving and that is okay. So maybe I am here just to say its okay. And sometimes okay is good enough.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ... Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.