When I was 16 and pregnant, I knew that I would never successfully make it in motherhood without God’s intervention in my life. Matter of fact, that’s when I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ.
Up until that time I was slipping and sliding in my walk with Christ. It’s amazing how a life-crisis can be the slap-in-the-face we need to awaken us and redirect us back to God.
Well, my teen awareness of parenting failure without God turned out to be 100% accurate because, truth is, even with a genuine relationship with the Lord, I am sometimes just hanging on by a thread – dangling somewhere between, “Today was a good day” and “Help me, Lord! I’m going under!”
Two Sunday’s ago, my church was recently visited by a Christian drug rehab ministry. Approximately 20 men who were a part of the drug rehab ministry stood up and testified how the Gospel of Jesus Christ was the key factor in setting them free from their life of drug addiction.
Many of these men had struggled with drugs almost all of their lives. Several of them were x-convicts. Some of them had even overdosed. One-by-one these men stood-up, and with a tremendous degree of humility they shared how lost and broken and hopelessly addicted they were before the power of the Cross broke the chains of addiction off of their lives.
They were weak, yet strong. They stood independently in their conviction, yet they were interconnected. They didn’t take a moment of time for granted. They needed one another, rooted for one another, and had a profound understanding of how desperately they needed the Lord to maintain sobriety.
But he [Jesus] 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. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Once or twice in between their testimonies, the visiting Pastor asked our congregation if any of us had ever struggled in a particular area – and if we had, to indicate by show of hands. It was obvious, at least to me, that many more hands should have gone up, and I got the impression that very few of us congregants wanted to identify our struggles openly, or confess what the Lord had delivered us from. I know this because I struggled to raise my hand, too.
How unbelievable it is that we were sitting in a Holy Ghost hospital, yet no one wanted to disclose their spiritual malady?
As each of the men stood-up and shared their utter desperation for Jesus, I realized something about myself for the first time – I realized just how very much I am like those men . . .
Hello, my name is Tiffiney, and I am a Psycho Mom in recovery. I used to curse at my family, physically abuse my husband, and throw household items during fits of rage. I’ve contemplated divorce and even leaving my children. Motherhood and marriage has kicked my butt! And if it weren’t for Jesus Christ, the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, and the prayer and fellowship of my brothers and sisters in Christ, I would have destroyed my family.
Did you know that about me? If you didn’t, you need to know. The last thing I want people to think is that I’m “somebody” because I have this blog. The only reason this blog exists, the only reason my family still stands today, is because of the transforming power of Jesus Christ at work in my life.
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Some people may see my happy, smiling profile picture and think that I have it all together. They may read (some of) my blog posts and think I’ve got it going on, but the truth is that I’m just a shiny penny, and if I shine at all, I am reflecting the light of Jesus Christ.
…let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
I am just like those men: desperate for Jesus. I need him more than the air I breathe. He keeps me from destroying myself and my family. I often jest that I am one Bible verse and prayer away from insanity, but there is some truth in that statement. I certainly know where my help comes from, it comes from the Lord! And I want the world to know it.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains β where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)
My salvation, my mental health, my family’s emotional and spiritual growth – it’s all Because of Jesus.
Do you know what God does with weak things?
He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power (Isaiah 40:29).
Do you know what he does with very dry bones?
βDry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says … I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.ββ (Ezekiel 37: 4b, 5a, 6b)
I am a living witness that Because of Jesus a home can blessed, set-apart, filled with love, thankful, strong in the Lord!, ready for the storms of life, sanctified, built by the Lord, and a place where children are trained in righteousness.
I was that very weak and broken woman, but Jesus spoke to my family’s dry bones, and he has even graciously allowed me to write a devotional which showcases the uniqueness of the Christian home. NOT because I’m anything special, but because God bestows, “beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Isaiah 61:3) And if he did it for me, he can do it for anyone who is in Christ Jesus.
Your fellow home builder,
Tiffiney
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Thank you, Tiffiney, for a well “versed” and honest post. Imagine how those men would feel if no one admitted to sharing in their struggles? Rejoicing with you in God’s saving grace and transforming changes in my own life!
Thankyou ma’am, thank you. You will never know how much you inspire me as a young mom of 4 kids under 8. Thank you.
Four kids under eight? Bless you, Joy! We moms need all of the inspiration we can get, and I’m happy to provide even a small bit for you. π
Thanks for your honesty here, Tiffiney. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t have struggles, so we might as well all admit it. I definitely agree with you: “Motherhood and marriage has kicked my butt!” Those relationships have brought out the best in me in Christ, and the worst in me in my flesh. So thankful for Jesus!
Thankful for Jesus…amen, and amen!
I heard someone say the other day (or maybe its a line from a hallmark movie) the magic wasn’t in getting married the magic was that they stayed together. My magic is Jesus, because this life can wring you through the wringer. I was my own version of psycho mom…but God!
I appreciate your vulnerability.
You were your own version of psycho mom…that made me chuckle. π
Perhaps we all are to some varying degree? π€