I stand in the kitchen with both my feet and head throbbing. My senses are overstimulated from juggling the after school routine while simultaneously cooking dinner, refereeing fights between my kids and trying to mentally process anything else that I need to get done before tomorrow. As my brain seems to stop in the midst of the sensory overload, I physically stop my fluttering in an attempt to manage the mental load and determine my next steps. My daughter comes up to ask for the same thing I have said “no” to more than once already. I snap and lose my patience. Satan knows this is where he can find me. The perfect time of day to trip me up and drag me into his purposes. A great moment to steal my joy and spread the frustration to everyone else I encounter (John 10:10).
Marriage and motherhood is beautiful but hard. Sometimes it can feel like constantly living in the tension between the guilt to do more and the logic that there is no way to do it all. Our minds become the front lines of a battlefield between good and evil. Although we know our identity in Christ, in the midst of the chaos this life brings, the devil’s lies begin to creep in. Intrusive thoughts, worry and the feeling of failure cloud the ability to see or hear the voice of our loving Savior. Satan knows this and loves to use anything he can to deter or distract us from God’s peace and purpose for our lives (1 Peter 5:8).
I’ve experienced time and time again the exhaustion from chasing perfection. It is my weakness, the sinful nature that I constantly have to combat. My desire to plan and control all the circumstances included in the plan becomes an idol, giving the devil the opportunity to draw me in. But I am so thankful for a Lord and Savior that does not leave me, or anyone who seeks Him, in that place. In Christ we can find freedom from our sin, including freedom from chasing perfection. He restores our soul with the peace and hope we have through salvation.
Romans 6:22-23 (ESV) says, “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
As the realities of life in this broken world bombard us day after day, we will inevitably find ourselves in this tension between what God has for us and what Satan tempts us with. None of us can find perfection here on Earth. However, if we commit to pursuing our relationship with our heavenly Father, we can find peace, hope and freedom. It is in intentionally pursuing Spiritual growth that we are sanctified. Daily time spent in prayer and scripture becomes the armor to help in those moments that there is a battle in our heart and mind (Ephesians 6:10-18). In Romans, Paul instructs Christians to live in the peace and strength we have through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:6 (NLT) says, “So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.“
Take time today to sit at the feet of Jesus. Ask Him to help you remember His faithfulness, restore your soul and help keep your eyes on Him (Isaiah 26:3-4). As we allow the Spirit to fill our hearts and minds, that hazy cloud the enemy creates will disappear so that the voice of Christ becomes all we hear.