I think we all have a love/hate relationship with the internet. Especially for social sites like Pinterest and blogs. I can’t believe how much I have learned about every day life. My whole house is full of ideas that have come from this crazy little box in front of me.
But so many times (and I know I’m not alone here), I’ve turned away from gazing at someone’s publicly displayed life, turned to look at the reality of my own; and found the dissimilarity to be overwhelmingly depressing.
What is wrong with me? Why can’t I get it together? My poor kids, having to grow up with a mom like me! But if I’m brutally honest, my emotions quickly swing to my own defense. Well, they must not have it as hard as I do. My kids don’t sleep through the night. We’re barely scraping by financially. My son has such and such. And blah-de-blah. And I’m a woman, so I swing back again. Wow. You’re so ungrateful. You have all the advantages in the world. Abundant blessings, and you’re completely wasting it. You suck.
It’s yucky. It’s robbing me of joy. I’m tired of it. Should I ban the computer from my home? (There’d be a mutiny with me leading the charge.) Should I just try harder to be a better person? (Yeah… cuz that worked last time.)
What’s the solution?
Where can I go, but to the foot of the cross. Why do I ever leave? At the cross, I can be brutally honest about my shortcomings. At the cross, I find my mistakes are more than that; they’re the product of a heart in rebellion. And at the cross, hallelujah, I find that the very God that I have affronted with my sin has ALREADY paid the ultimate price in my place. It’s done. I brought nothing and came away with everything. I didn’t do a thing. This is grace.
So back to those dishes, and whining children. Back to those seemingly perfect people that make us feel so condemned. Back to those we fain interested in, just so we can judge them and feel better about ourselves. What to do with all those thoughts of comparison?
Preach the cross to yourself. If going through a severe depression has taught me anything, it is that if I’m passive in my thought life, the door of my mind is open to lies. Give yourself a talkin’ to!
“Yup, you’re right. You’re not good enough. No one is. Stop judging. In fact, you’re even worse off than you could ever believe. But Jesus died for you. Dude, listen to me. This is not a Sunday school lesson. JESUS DIED FOR YOU! His death has covered it all. You are not able to do anything but He’s able to do everything. You are forgiven. And by his Spirit, you are enabled.”
We have GOT to stop taking grace and the gospel out of our continued walk with Christ. We’re hopeless to save ourselves when we first come to Him and we’re hopeless to change ourselves even today. Stop striving for perfection without Him. It’s robbing Him of the glory He wants to display in your life!
Read 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 with fresh eyes.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I’m sharing all this because I desperately want this blog to be a place that champions women, not compares. I don’t know exactly how to prevent that but here’s my idea. I want to include at the end of every post some kind of personal boasting in weakness. I find it laughable that someone would be intimated by me or my ridiculous “accomplishments”, but it might happen. I’m gonna include some kind of humbling tidbit. I’m not sure how this will develop. But I KNOW it will be good for me, and I hope it will keep all our focus’ on the cross. I’m gonna call it “Boasting in Weakness” since I’m not creative enough to come up with anything else.
If all this seems like gibberish, PLEASE message me! I’d love to talk more about what Christ has done for you and for me.
Julie is a frazzled mom of three tornadoes. As a dorky second-generation homeschooler, she writes about learning and play, natural living, special needs parenting and matters of the heart. She serves an astounding God that radically saved her.
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Lauren Gaines says
Beautiful post! It is so easy to become discouraged and disheartened when you compare yourself to the world. But nothing compares to wrapping your arms around Jesus’ neck and resting in His embrace. Thanks for sharing your heart 🙂
Julie says
Thanks for stopping by! It’s always great to find another sister!
Clarissa Hooper says
I absolutely LOVE this idea to “boast in weakness” at the end of each post. Looking forward to reading much more from you <3
Julie says
Thanks for the encouragement to keep going. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just making a fool of myself, not actually encouraging anyone. 😉
Karen says
Thanks for your tender comments and your willingness to be real! The ground is level at the foot of the cross and hoe is found there! GREAT reminder to keep my mind filled with His Word! I need to Phil 4:8 it!….Phil 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.
Julie says
Thank you for sharing! I find it a struggle to keep my thoughts on Him. That’s a great verse!
Ebony Jones says
Thank you so much for this post. I came to your site by way of Pinterest because I was looking for some OT ideas for children with Autism. I am an OTA student working for the Early Autism Project here in Columbia, SC. Your post resonates with me because I deleted my Facebook account for the very reasons you shared. My husband and I have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility we’ve been married 11yrs and in our early 40s. Everyday reading posts and pics of all your married friends and relatives you babysat having babies and family outtings is like an emotional roller-coaster for me. I have instagram now but I use it more to motivate me in my interests;exercises, healthy eating, sewing and natural hair care. Thanks for reminding me to always go back to the foot of the cross. As a matter of fact I have a devotional book with that title, I need to study it out again. Also thanks for reminding me not to be passive in my thoughts and to consider others feelings when I post on social media. I may steal your line if that’s ok?
Your words were like a whisper from God today.
Julie says
Ebony, thank you for writing. It is such an encouragement to know that God is using this blog. I often only hear crickets. 🙂 I will be praying for you as you get back to the cross! It’s the only place I know of where a heart can be genuinely healed. (Saw you joined me over on instagram! Glad to have you!) Yes, feel free to steal my words and share them with who’d ever you’d like! 😉