Faith to be Strong

Hello out there! We're alive and well. Most of the time...  I realize that a lot of moms out there struggle with comparison and I won't say that I'm exempt from that struggle. I also don't want to cause someone to struggle by the way I talk about my family on this blog. Our days aren't perfect. They don't always look like this...

They sometimes will look like this...

Though Kameron is better at smiling during these times than I am... My husband really is such a blessing. What causes me to absolutely meltdown [yes, I have meltdowns] usually doesn't even make him flinch. He's kind of strong and resilient like that :) But alas, he's not perfect either. I promise I have a point with this post, even though now it feels all over the place. I guess that helps me to even further prove our point.

I do hesitate to write about the hard days for a couple of reasons. The first is that I don't ever want to sound like I'm complaining or discontent for what the Lord has put before me. There are days I do feel like that, but I never want to blast those sinful thoughts on the internet for all to see. The second reason is that my life is sooo easy. There are so many wives and mothers out there who are absolute warriors and have conquered [or are currently conquering] so many more trials than my 24-year-old self [25 tomorrow, whoop whoop] ever has. Therefore, I'm hesitant to even begin to paint my life as "hard."

But there are hard days. There are days when my sweet, handsome, blue-eyed son whines— wails, even. He isn't always a sleeping angel or a cooing ball of perfection. And I cannot always console him. I cannot fix it. I react in ways that are not worthy to bear the name of Christ. His grace restrains me from so much, but the battle is often disheartening. So tired of sin. So tired of impatience, anger, frustration, bitterness... I was briefly expressing these struggles to a dear friend the other night via text [I know, how personal, right?] and her response was so absolutely perfect that I even gasped a bit as my eyes brimmed with much needed tears. "Jesus was perfectly patient for you."

Now I don't want to ruin the sheer simplicity of that statement by rambling on about Jesus' righteousness and how that is imputed to us or that even though we are justified that doesn't mean we are to go on sinning so that grace may abound [not that those truths would ruin anything, I just tend to talk too much and for the moment would rather save those theological conversations for another day]. Well, now that I have ruined the moment with all my asides, time to go nutshell mode...

I fail every day. I am not a perfect Christian, daughter, sister, wife, mother, or friend.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:56-58)

If you are in Christ, be encouraged by this truth. Know this victory. I'm not trying to encourage you by saying, Oh we all struggle—it's okay to be frustrated and angry. Everybody does it. I'm wanting to encourage you by saying—You are not alone. It is a daily battle to put my sin to death, fight temptation, and strive to be holy. But God's grace is sufficient. Take heart— for His power is made perfect in our weakness. Talk about crazy! Therefore may we boast all the more gladly in our weakness, so that the power of Christ may dwell in us. May we be content in our weaknesses, for the sake of Christ. For when we are weak, then weak are strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Picture break! I was getting a little text heavy... Sorry if I lost some of you :)

A few other encouraging nuggets for you...

"Are you mourning over your own weakness? Take courage, for there must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give you victory. Your emptiness is but the preparation for your being filled, and your casting down is but the making ready for your lifting up." —Charles Haddon Spurgeon [thanks Katie!]

"I guess I learned the hard way that this world can’t give me what I need.
Even though the house I built on sand was swallowed by the sea,
You never let me down.
Sometimes I think I’ll only be content with things that money buys.
Its like trying to squeeze water from a stone – it will not provide.
But You never let me down.
You might let me cry.
You might let me sing.
You might let me feel a fraction of your suffering.
But you won’t let me down.
If I could just stop striving and surrender to Your holy power I know Your loving arms will lift me up and never let me down." —Andy Gullahorn, Never Let Me Down

But the real star of the encouragement show is Andrew Peterson. This song of his is absolutely wonderful [I listed the lyrics under the video, you must follow along!]
May this be my daily prayer as I strive to live in a manner worthy of the gospel.

Give us faith to be strong
Father, we are so weak
Our bodies are fragile and weary
As we stagger and stumble to walk where you lead
Give us faith to be strong

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us peace when we're torn
Mend us up when we break
This flesh can be wounded and shaking
When there's much too much trouble for one heart to take
Give us peace when we're torn

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong

Give us hearts to find hope
Father, we cannot see
How the sorrow we feel can bring freedom
And as hard as we try, Lord, it's hard to believe
So, give us hearts to find hope

Give us faith to be strong
Give us strength to be faithful
This life is not long, but it's hard
Give us grace to go on
Make us willing and able
Lord, give us faith to be strong
Give us peace when we're torn
Give us faith, faith to be strong