No Condemnation

A few days ago, Sarah Mae wrote a blog post that was shared over 3,000 times, and I wasn’t at all surprised. Like so many others, her words resonated with me beause, ugh, it feels like I get caught in that same cycle all. the. time.

I cry, decide to be a better mother, and then yell at my kids all over again. And, oh, can I just tell you the guilt that follows? It presses heavy, and I find myself crushed beneath its weight.

Crushed.

Have you ever been caught in that relentless spin-cycle? Dragged around, tossed about, and ready to drown?

If, like me, you’ve ever felt guilt controlling your mothering, dear Friend, may I just whisper Truth in your ear?

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

When the guilt weighs heavy, I cling to His promise. Because of Jesus, no condemnation.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4 NLT)

That heavy yoke of guilt and regret we carry is not from God! It is placed on us by the enemy of our souls trying to discourage us and render us ineffective.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV84)

If  we have confessed our sin, God is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

There is no condemnation.

We can start fresh.

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV84)

Today is a new week, a new morning, and God’s mercies are new. {And if you’re reading this mid-day or mid-week, and you’ve already messed up? You don’t have to wait for a new morning. His mercies are new right now, too!}

When anger or impatience motivate sharp words and selfish choices, when we vow to do better but fall into that same old trap, we don’t have to be stuck.

God calls us to confess our sin, then get up and walk in His mercy and grace. When we put our trust in Jesus as our Savior, we become new creations.

New! The old is gone, the new has come.

When we confess, God forgives. We can stop dwelling on what is behind — last year, last week, yesterday — for pete’s sake, we can stop rehashing that mistake we made 5 minutes ago!

Sisters, we are called to throw off everything that entagles and press on toward the goal! Eyes focused on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). HE is faithful to complete the work that was started in us!

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 MSG)

Let’s let Him!

And when we struggle with guilt and those ugly thoughts come — those condemning, not-good-enough, you’re gonna fail, lies fill our heads, let’s resolve to take each one captive. Capture it and kill it.

We will not dwell on it or let it move any further into our heads or our hearts. We will throw. it. out and replace it with Truth.

We can do this. Right now, again, we have a fresh start.

Let’s cling to Jesus and walk in freedom.

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)

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For many of us, guilt chases us down after we’ve made a mistake.

Though we must learn to lay that guilt at the foot of the cross, dealing with the guilt doesn’t address the struggle that Sarah Mae wrote about last week.

Life doesn’t become easier just because we realize how sacred it is, or how quickly it can be gone, or how we might not have our little one to hold tomorrow. Life moves forward, and our sin-disease moves right along with it. Sin doesn’t give us a break, or care about our little ones, or pause when we need to re-group.

So how the heck do we live in the “blink”, before our babies are grown…or gone?

Really, how do we live? (Sarah Mae)

I’m heading over to Sarah’s, along with thousands of other women, to wrestle with this looming question, “How do we live in the blink?” I hope you will, too.

Maybe together we can figure it out, or at least get a few steps closer.

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