Last Updated on April 16, 2018
“I am a mess” are words I have uttered more times than I would like to admit. Do you feel me? If you are a mom, of course you feel me!
Now the word “mess” conjures up all sorts of Instagram possibilities in a mom’s mind—there’s the flour-all-over-the-living-room mess, the paint-all-over-the-television mess, the pillow-stuffing-all-over-the-bedroom mess, and so many more—all there for our snickering pleasure. Depending on your personality, you are either smiling with me or shivering, thinking about cleaning up the mess!
As you gaze around your home you may wilt just a bit because you think the mess you have is far worse than a dusting of flour or some misplaced stuffing— you have real issues and lofty problems.
I have some good news: God is very mindful of your mess and He has you right in the middle of your mess because He knows you personally and He is right there with you, waiting for you to seek Him.
It was quite the liberating MOMent for me when I realized that God has a purpose even in the messes. You see, it is through our messes He does His best work because that’s when we have a tendency to hear His tender voice.
Motherhood carries with it much joy and much responsibility and far too many moms are wearing the weight of the world on their drooping shoulders and sinking toward a feeling of defeat. You are not defeated; you are chosen! By God for the glorious task of raising little image-bearers who are destined to bring glory to God!
And guess what? You are the perfect mom for the kids He has entrusted to you! Read closer, you are not a perfect mom, but you are the perfect mom for your little ones!
Beautiful Mess helps each mom discover (or remember) that she is the mom God chose for her children, and she is a beautiful mom who is capable of her calling.
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Listen to FamilyLife Today – Hiding the Word in Your Heart
Motherhood is messy, but beautiful. MOPS President Sherry Surratt and MomLife Today founder Tracey Eyster team up to talk about the greatest challenge they’ve ever faced – being mothers. Together they talk about gaining motherly confidence, finding a mentor, and relying on the Lord to face the day-to-day.
I will be starting a Mom’s mentoring program and I want us to pray about using your book and bible study and a personal visit to kick it off. WHAT DO I NEED TO DO.
I so enjoyed Sherry’s and Tracey’s comments over the last two days on the Family Life Today radio broadcast. As an “older” mom (my son is 7, I am 51!), I cannot tell you how much it still means to hear OTHER Moms say that motherhood IS hard AND messy! Once again, Family Life Today has been a heaven-sent resource for me. Thanks so much.
Hi Tracey- I’m a mentor mom for a young mom’s Bible Study, and we’re using Beautiful Mess this year. We are all loving it! My kids are all grown, but I wish this had been available 20 years ago! I’m just now doing week three, and on day three, I have a suggestion for your next re-printing. You’ve grouped the words “jealousy” and “envy” together, as though they’re synonyms, and they have often become so in common usage. But the older, truer meaning is more nuanced: Envy is wanting something that isn’t yours, (like, I want your sweater- or your husband’s affections) and jealousy is wanting to retain something that is lawfully yours (like my own husband’s affection). I’m only taking time to note this to you, because many times in the scriptures, God refers to himself as a “jealous God”, and I wouldn’t want any of our young moms to think God is sinning. Envy is always a sin. Jealously, as it’s used in the Bible, is not. God rightfully expects our worship, loyalty and devotion, and is indeed jealous for it. It is lawfully his, as my own husbands attentions are lawfully mine. Sorry if it’s a dumb comparison, but it’s all I could come up with off the top of my head. Anyway, I’m loving the study, and will gladly refer it to all who are moms!