I’m Held Together By Mercy and Grace

I’m not a good enough wife.

I get moody and clingy. I struggle with the house. I get resentful of his free time, even his needs. I don’t pray for him enough. I buy him gifts because his own gift to me reminded me. I forget things he’s told me, even after he’s told me multiple times. I get distracted. I get complacent. I take him for granted. I bottle things up until my emotions explode. I get stressed and take it out on him. I get fearful and timid. I talk and don’t listen. My heart doesn’t always remain as open as it should.

I’m not a good enough wife—on my own.

On my own, I’m flawed. I’m riddled with mistakes and insecurities. I’m overflowing with worries and negative thought spirals. I’m tight-gripped and losing strength.

But with Jesus, I’m more than enough.

I’m wonderfully made—the perfect amount. (Psalm 139:13-14, 2 Corinthians 9:8)

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I’m clad in armor, ready to extinguish every flaming doubt and faulty fear. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

I’m given a strength that lifts me up and keeps me safe, keeps me brave. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

I’m given a new heart, one that is ready to give and receive love.

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).

I’m held together by a God who redeems my soul and fights for my marriage.

I’m threaded into a story of grace. I’m humbled and exalted. I’m repentant and forgiven. I’m given a new chance, each and every day.

I’m not a good enough mother.

I get exhausted and defeated. I struggle with the toys and mess. I get resentful of their playtime, even their needs. I don’t pray for them enough. I buy them gifts to help them feel loved when there are so many better ways to show that love. I forget things they tell me, even things they’ve asked for multiple times. I get distracted. I get complacent. I take my son and daughter for granted. I bottle things up and let my emotions explode and escalate their own tantrums. I get stressed and take it out on my toddlers. I get fearful and frozen. I tell them what to do and forget to listen to their hearts. My arms don’t always remain as open as they should.

I’m not a good enough mother—on my own.

On my own, I’m human. I’m riddled with fears and shame. I’m overflowing with guilt and obsessive-compulsive thought spirals. I’m clenching fists and losing sight of what’s important. But with Jesus, I’m more than enough.

I’m prepared and equipped. (Ephesians 2:10, Romans 15:4-8)

I’m upheld with a light to shine a way through the darkness. (Psalm 119:105)

I’m comforted and held, never alone in my struggle. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

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I’m given grace in my weakness, love in my brokenness, and hope stronger than my fear.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”
(Psalm 34:18).

I’m held together by a God who wrote my story, who gave me these kids, who loves them even more than I do.

I’m threaded into His story of grace. I’m weeping and held close; I’m laughing and lifted high; I’m crawling and pulled to my feet. I’m on my face praying for a new chance, and I’m always, always found in the shelter of His arms.

On my own, I’ll never be good or enough. But this was never a question of how I’ll measure up—this was always the story of how He transcended space and time to give me hope, to share His strength, and to lavish His love.

He’s always enough, so I don’t have to be.

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“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15: 57-58).

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).