Surrendering the Gaps

Posted by Tara | 0 comments

I am really hard on myself when it comes to parenting.  I go to bed most nights aching over the mistakes I made or opportunities that I missed to teach my son something important.

I read a post by my good friend, Sarah Mae @ LikeAWarmCupofCoffee and from it, gleaned a nugget of thought that has proved life-changing for me.

God’s grace fills in the gaps of my parenting.

Do you need to hear that?  Do you ache over your parenting mistakes?  Are you reluctant to get up the next day and be the parent again because you hate all the mess-ups that run through your head?  Do you wonder if your kids would be better off with a different mom?  I’ll be raw honest with you – I think those things at times.  But then I remember God’s grace.

God’s grace fills in the gaps of your parenting.

What does it mean that “God’s grace fills in the gaps”?  Second Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB explains it:

9And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  10Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

I’m sure you have heard and read this verse numerous times in reference to Paul’s dreaded “thorn in the flesh”.  But have you thought about it in the greater context in the picture of grace?  God’s grace is more than enough to cover our parenting mistakes, weaknesses, fleshly actions and reactions, those “bury-your-face-in-the-pillow” moments we all have.  John MacArthur’s commentary on this passage states:  “The weaker the instrument, the more clearly God’s grace shines through”.  Some days, that’s all we have – His grace.

Actually, that should cause us to rejoice, just as Paul did – “I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  Again, John MacArthur goes on in his commentary:  “Paul took no pleasure in the pain itself, but rejoiced in the power of Christ that it revealed in him”.

In order to rejoice in our weaknesses, in our parenting gaps, we first must surrender them to God.  My common prayer is this (and you may take it as your own as well):

Lord, I cannot be the parent you want me to be to my son in my own strength, wisdom, brilliance or common sense.  None of my intentions, plans, routines, lesson plans, field trips, play dates or co-op days can fill in the gaps of my parenting.  I humbly surrender my mistakes and missed opportunities to you and I ask for your grace to be enough in the life of my son to cover those gaps and to do Your work in his heart.  In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Just knowing that I can go before the throne, asking for and receiving His grace in my parenting, takes an immense load from my shoulders.  His grace is enough.  HE is enough.

Lord, praise You that Your Grace fills in the gaps of our parenting.

Tara McClenahan is a devoted mom to a two-year-old “little man” and enjoys discovering how God has “packed his suitcase”. As an associate with iBloom, she has a heart for inspiring, encouraging and equipping moms to become “Proverbs 31 mamas” and raise their children according to Biblical principles and guidelines using the Bible and other tools. Tara adores falling leaves, sweatshirts, Starbucks White Chocolate Mochas and the first curly BBQ chip from the bag! Make sure to visit www.MommyMissions.com to download your free Christian mom resource!