We live in a world where we feel pressure to be perfect- similar to my last post. Social media is the worst for putting fake images on display. Take for instance a picture you may decide to post- if you were 100% honest, how many re-takes did you take? What filter did you use? How long did it take you to find the very best possible one of you? And for real- why do women stick out their lips?.. as Trey Kennedy would say, "do less, and God bless." I mean, who cares if someone else looks awful, the bottom line is this- I'll post the one I look the best in. Why am I so shallow that I need to display a great image, when at best, I struggle each day with a handful of my own insecurities?
If you come to my home for a meal, I would be annoyed if you saw the mess in my closet or the tumbleweeds of dog hair I vacuumed before you got there. I want my own version of "Magnolia" perfection. I watch Chip and Joanna and then feel inadequate when I scrutinize my own home. Don't get me wrong- I'm a Fixer Upper addict, and that show carried me through some really lonely seasons of life. It's just that it opens my eyes to my inabilities to pull together a look that causes decorating envy. So instead, I'll wander the Project 62 section in Target, and wish I could start re-vamping my spaces, and I guess I could for a small fortune. But why can't I just be satisfied with my own blessings, because I have many! And why do I feel pressured to uphold a Joanna Gaines standard?
I was scrolling through Instagram today, and saw a post by Lauren Daigle that I absolutely loved! She posted 10 selfies of mostly weird or silly faces and captioned her post with this- "Just a little something real for ya while you scroll through the myriad of Instagram perfection mirages." I told my daughter just last week, "can you imagine if we just posted pictures of our worst moments? When we had the worst hair day, and a pimple the size of our nose?" Because none of us are perfect- not our houses, not our bodies, not our lives. But because we only post our greatest moments, and most flattering pictures, we cause a whole world full of people to feel insecure, inadequate, and unsatisfied.
I think of how this relates to the subject of infidelity. We are always looking at what we think is greener grass, thinking surely there is something better for me out there. But when we get a good look at that greener grass, it's as inadequate as what was growing in our own yard. We are a generation of dissatisfied people, always wanting what we don't have. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we all are imperfect, stained, and messy. It's time to face the reality of our imperfections, and not put forth false personas. The images we are sending are causing generations of people to feel insecure. It's okay to be real- to post the picture you're cross-eyed in. To invite the company over when the grass is a foot tall because you've been too busy. God isn't impressed with fake- He values a sincere heart.
So today, I want to encourage you to embrace who God made you to be. I'm no Joanna Gaines, but I was made in the image of God, and He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me. He didn't only die for the prettiest ones, the most talented, or the sharpest crayon in the box- He died for all! My shortcomings are a testament to my humanity. So no matter what I post, I am here to remind you that I don't have it all together. I don't have all the answers. And as long as I'm on this side of eternity, I never will.
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 ESV
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 ESV
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30 ESV
Dear Heavenly Father, help me not put forth a false perception of perfection. I don't have a perfect marriage, family, body, or home. I don't have it all together. Let others see me as genuine, and may my inadequacies give me opportunity to connect with others that are struggling with their own securities, opening the door for me to introduce them to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
Showing posts with label false. Show all posts
Showing posts with label false. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 16, 2019
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
False Start
Last summer, my heart soared. I got a call from my husband saying all the words I wanted to hear. I wondered what caused the turn around, and was just so excited for a fresh start. To celebrate, we took some time away- just the two of us. We traveled to one of our favorite spots in Florida- Siesta Key Beach. We would have a week to talk, connect, and spend time together.
I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but something seemed off. Our week started out strong, but as it went on, the connection felt strange. Honestly, I felt at times that he wasn't where he wanted to be, and that really bothered me. On the drive home, we didn't speak very much at all. I attributed it to being tired, and he was content to drive the whole way. There wasn't really tension, just a failure to feel rejuvenated in our relationship and connected in all aspects. This was affirmed when we returned home, and again, we drifted away from one another. The affair was not over. These were frustrating, heartbreaking, and painful points in our journey.
Maybe you've felt that in your relationship. Things seem to be going the right direction, but there is an underlying issue that ends up driving you apart, rather than closer together. Sometimes we have a firm understanding of what the root cause is, and other times we don't. Regardless, it's a hard bend in the road that leaves us feeling hurt and uncertain.
False starts in relationships happen. We forge ahead, thinking we are on a good path, only to discover we aren't really moving forward after all. I think of times this has happened not only in my marriage, but in my spiritual walk with Christ. I have the best intentions of "turning over a new leaf" only to flounder again, and again. I used to wonder how this kept happening, and how I could avoid having it happen again. But I discovered that my lack of consistency for staying tuned in to His voice was the biggest contributing factor to falling off track.
If you've had the same spiritual struggle, the answers are found in daily Bible reading, study, and prayer. The more you do it, the more you'll enjoy it. The more you enjoy it, the more it will change your life. And when your life is changed, your marriage will also change. Just as we rely on God's grace toward us for a relationship with Him, we must also lavish it on our spouses, or significant others. A relationship without grace cannot thrive. Likewise, a relationship without a repentant heart for wrongdoing, also can't thrive. If you want a fresh start today instead of a false start, start with the truth found in His Word and let it spill over into all areas of your life. It will change you- and it will give you a new sense of purpose! Let this verse be your daily motivation:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your wonderful, marvelous grace. I am grateful that You give me fresh starts, and forgive my false starts. Help those hurting in their marriages today that are struggling with false starts. I know the pain of it, and I pray that You work in their lives and hearts. I pray for a heart of grace and compassion, and also for a repentant heart when I hurt others or sin against You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
I couldn't put my finger on it at the time, but something seemed off. Our week started out strong, but as it went on, the connection felt strange. Honestly, I felt at times that he wasn't where he wanted to be, and that really bothered me. On the drive home, we didn't speak very much at all. I attributed it to being tired, and he was content to drive the whole way. There wasn't really tension, just a failure to feel rejuvenated in our relationship and connected in all aspects. This was affirmed when we returned home, and again, we drifted away from one another. The affair was not over. These were frustrating, heartbreaking, and painful points in our journey.
Maybe you've felt that in your relationship. Things seem to be going the right direction, but there is an underlying issue that ends up driving you apart, rather than closer together. Sometimes we have a firm understanding of what the root cause is, and other times we don't. Regardless, it's a hard bend in the road that leaves us feeling hurt and uncertain.
False starts in relationships happen. We forge ahead, thinking we are on a good path, only to discover we aren't really moving forward after all. I think of times this has happened not only in my marriage, but in my spiritual walk with Christ. I have the best intentions of "turning over a new leaf" only to flounder again, and again. I used to wonder how this kept happening, and how I could avoid having it happen again. But I discovered that my lack of consistency for staying tuned in to His voice was the biggest contributing factor to falling off track.
If you've had the same spiritual struggle, the answers are found in daily Bible reading, study, and prayer. The more you do it, the more you'll enjoy it. The more you enjoy it, the more it will change your life. And when your life is changed, your marriage will also change. Just as we rely on God's grace toward us for a relationship with Him, we must also lavish it on our spouses, or significant others. A relationship without grace cannot thrive. Likewise, a relationship without a repentant heart for wrongdoing, also can't thrive. If you want a fresh start today instead of a false start, start with the truth found in His Word and let it spill over into all areas of your life. It will change you- and it will give you a new sense of purpose! Let this verse be your daily motivation:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your wonderful, marvelous grace. I am grateful that You give me fresh starts, and forgive my false starts. Help those hurting in their marriages today that are struggling with false starts. I know the pain of it, and I pray that You work in their lives and hearts. I pray for a heart of grace and compassion, and also for a repentant heart when I hurt others or sin against You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen!
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