I’m Going to Mess Them Up

2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he 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.”

Think

Recently, a friend suggested I write down my deepest fear on a notecard. Reluctantly, I scribbled, "I am going to mess up my kids." It seemed a bit dramatic, but it was genuinely haunting me. Placing the card on my bathroom sink, I forgot about it until one of my daughters walked in, read it aloud, and looked at me puzzled. "Mom, what is this? Why would you write this?" Her words made my fear sound so far-fetched, yet the worry was real to me, echoed by the shock in her eyes.

This incident made me realize how many lies I let settle in my mind. My inner voice constantly whispers doubts: I'm not enough, I'm too broken, I'm just one step away from ruining my kids. It's a chilling chorus that can drown out reason, if I let it. Fear has this nasty habit of pushing God out of the picture, making us believe we're on our own in our darkest moments.

But then I remember what the Bible says about God's presence in our weakness. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness," (2 Corinthians 12:9). This verse reminds me that, despite my imperfections, God's strength and grace fill in the gaps. When I feel inadequate, God is more than enough, not just for me but for my children too. He cares even more about their well-being and growth than I do.

Embracing this truth transforms how I view my fears. 2 Corinthians 9:8 assures us, "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." Whether it's parenting, working, or simply getting out of bed on tough days, God is ready to provide abundantly. I learned to confront my fears with these truths, flipping over that notecard to write down God's promises. This act of faith in the bathroom that morning didn't just change a piece of paper; it started to change me. God is always ready to turn our fears into a testament of his strength.

Apply

What do you need to turn over to God? Do you need to admit your need for him and let him take over in parenting, in business? He is there and able.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for your unending grace and strength that fill the spaces of my weakness. I bring you my worries and my fears; I am unworthy, but with you “I can do all things.” Teach me to trust in your sufficiency and power that is made perfect in my weakness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.