EquippedMama

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you are saved!— ⁶ and he raised us up together with him and seated us together with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

Ephesians 2:4-8 New English Translation (NET) NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

What do you have to complain about?

Perhaps during the uncertainty of COVID-19 your family finances have been stretched thin or the health of a loved one has been compromised. Or perhaps you’re simply tired of being in quarantine, running out of DIY projects and activities to keep your little ones occupied. No matter the seriousness of your situation, it is easy to slip into a mindset of complaining.

Although my family has been free from infection from this sickness and not too greatly inconvenienced by the need for quarantine, I found myself falling into a mindset of self-pity just yesterday. My great reason for my frustration? MY time was being threatened. Yep. One of my little ones needed my attention during naptime. My day had been interrupted by several inconveniences:

• three poopy diapers.
• a run I didn’t get to go on.
• a missing retainer.
• a hefty stack of laundry I needed to do.
• six scorpions I removed from the house.
• and a sinful heart I knew I needed to repent of.

It is so easy to whine and to feel entitled to being upset when our happy mundane gets interrupted. But as we are reminded in Philippians we are to do everything without grumbling or arguing (Philippians 2:14). In my temptation not to meet these little challenges with the right attitude I was reminded of my own need for grace as a Mama. What did I really have to complain about? Nothing, really.

But God.

If there were two words that should bring hope to every Mama wallowing in self-pity, sin, or frustration it is these. In this phrase we are reminded that the mercy of God was extended to us for a Salvation that we desperately needed. My sinful heart which I wrestle with daily deserves God’s wrath. But God. All my failures deserve God to turn his back on me and leave me to wallow in my sins. But, miracle of miracles, God didn’t.

What do I truly have to complain about? Nothing.

The true reason for my departure into selfishness is that I often forget what grace I have been shown. The Grace of the Gospel is that God, in his great mercy, loved me and provided a way for me to be forgiven of my sins. He loved me in my sinfulness and in my total lack of desire to love him. I was not merely a little bit less righteous than God, Ephesians 2 makes it clear that I was dead in my offenses. My sins both today and in the past had already condemned me. But God. God demonstrated kindness to me over 2000 years ago and sent his Son to rescue me from my sins making a way for me to be made right with Him (John 14:6). Through Jesus’ death on the Cross and resurrection I have been redeemed from my sins, purchased by his blood into a right relationship with God the Father. This is Grace. This is unmerited. This is good news.

This is grace for the mundane and for the fantastic. This is forgiveness for the habitual sin and the outburst of anger. This is my joy in the midst of what was becoming a pity-party day.

It is all too easy to forget what grace truly is and how much we don’t deserve it. It is easy to get caught up in the things we feel we deserve or the way we want our life to look. But God has extended grace to us far beyond what we could hope for or imagine. Salvation from sins is a reason to rejoice. Unmerited grace is a reason to be glad. It is grace that puts complaining to shame and silences the voice of entitlement. Salvation is not something that we have earned- nor is any goodness we receive. Everything good is the grace of God. Grace for the Mundane. Grace for the fantastic. Every good gift is nothing short of Grace.

Praise the Lord for the mercy each of us who have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of our sins have received. If you have trusted Christ and are struggling in a place of self-pity today, remember the grace that you have been shown. If you are struggling in self-pity and have not accepted the grace of God, it is available to those who will receive. By grace you are saved if you confess that you are a sinner and trust in Jesus’ work alone, apart from works, for the complete forgiveness of your sins (Romans 10:9).

But God.

This is Grace.

A note from EquippedMama- If you have questions about what it means to be made right with God, please reach out to us using the “Contact us” form. We are happy to answer honest questions and help clarify any concerns. Thank you for your time!