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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

When You Need A New Script

 

If there’s one thing that throws me into a ditch of self-doubt and discouragement, it’s when I act ugly with the ones I love. 

Today, I’ve asked my amazing friend Lysa, who is also president of Proverbs 31 Ministries, to share how “losing it” with her loved ones effects her. It’s something she talks about in her New York Times Best-selling book, Unglued,

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I’m sad because of the way I acted today. Disappointed in my lack of self-control. And the more I relive my emotionally driven tirade, the more my brain refuses sleep.

I have to figure this out. What is my problem? Why can’t I seem to control my reactions?

I stuff. I explode. And I don’t know how to get a handle on this. But God help me if I don’t get a handle on this. I will destroy the relationships I value most and weave into my life permanent threads of short-temperedness, shame, fear, and frustration.

Is that what I really want? Do I want my headstone to read, “Well, on the days she was nice she was really nice. But on the days she wasn’t, rest assured, hell hath no fury like the woman who lies beneath the ground right here”?

No. That’s not what I want. Not at all. I don’t want the script of my life to be written that way.

So, at 2:08 a.m., I vow to do better tomorrow. But better proves illusive and my vows wear thin in the face of daily annoyances and other unpleasant realities. Tears slip, and I’m worn out from trying. Always trying.

I feel broken. Unglued, actually. I have vowed to do better at 2:08 a.m. and 8:14 a.m. and 3:37 p.m. and 9:49 p.m. and many other minutes in between. So why aren’t things getting better? Why aren’t my reactions tamer?

I know what it’s like to praise God one minute and in the next minute yell and scream at my child—and then to feel both the burden of my destructive behavior and the shame of my powerlessness to stop it.

The emotional demands keep on coming. Unrelenting insecurity. Wondering if anyone appreciates me. Feeling tired, stressed, and hormonal.

 Feeling unglued is really all I’ve ever known. And I’m starting to wonder if maybe it’s all I’ll ever be.

Those were the defeating thoughts I couldn’t escape. Maybe you can relate. If you relate to my hurt, I pray you will also relate to my hope.

While unglued is all I’ve really known, I believe that with God’s help, today my life can be different. That’s my personal revelation of hope.

Today, I’d like to invite you to take the you the “Unglued Challenge” for the next 5 days {you can find out more below and enter Renee’s giveaway}. In my 5-days To Better Reactions challenge, you’ll find encouragement and a safe place to talk about our tendencies to stuff, explode, or react somewhere in between.

I am both a stuffer and an exploder. And I’ve experienced God’s tender mercies and grace given so many times it almost seems scandalous. How can our God be so patient? I don’t know. But He is.

Today, He’s offering us the fresh start our souls desperately need. Isaiah 41:13 promises He will help us. We can be different. A slate wiped clean. A page crisp-white. A chance to start rewriting the old scripts of past failures.

For me. For you. Together. We can do this.

Prayer: God, thank You that this is a new twenty-four hours. Today, I want to believe I can start writing a new script for my life. Help me to overcome the disbelief I have from my past failures. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thought for the Day: While feeling unglued is all I’ve really known, today my life can be different.

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Today’ post is from Day 1 of Lysa TerKeurst’s 5-day Unglued Challenge that includes FREE devotions from Unglued- Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions. If you want to learn how to respond with no regrets by managing your tendencies to stuff, explode, or react somewhere in between get Unglued, for 25% OFF through Proverbs31 Ministries today. 

 THE UNGLUED GIVEAWAY
Just do ONE or ALL of the following:

For EACH thing you do, leave a different comment. You’ll be entered to win each time!

Purchase the book for 25% off {or any Unglued resource}

Sign up for the 5-day Challenge {see right sidebar}.

Share this post via email, Facebook or Twitter {see buttons below}

Watch Lysa TerKeurst on The Today Show {Yes, The Today SHOW! We’re so excited!!} She’ll be on Monday (9am segment) and Tues (10am segment) Eastern Standard Time.

Click “Share Your Thoughts” to tell me which ones you did and why you want to win!


Grand Prize Winner  will receive 2 books
+ 1 DVD curriculum and participants guide.
And I’ll give away 3 more books to 3 more winners!

Discover more from Renee Swope

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Comments

  2. I was so glad when I clicked on your post for today and saw Isaiah 41:13 at the top of the post. I cannot tell you just how timely a reminder that verse is for me today. And Lysa on the Today show!!!!!!!! WOW! How exciting for her, for you, and for the Proverbs 31 ministry! I’m going to tune in at 9am to watch!

    Thank you, ladies, for all you do to encourage, bless, and give guidance based on God’s truth to all of us. I am truly thankful this day for you and this ministry : )

    Sweet Blessings,
    Pam

  5. Oh I can so relate to this. I am a walking time bomb it seems only to my best friend… Recently I thought I had lost the friendship because of my episodes… So grateful for this post,will take the challenge and yes enter all drawings for more on this book… I am unable to purchase right now but will add to my wish list. Thanks!!

  8. This book has been on my “must read” list since before it was even released, but with the chaos and busyness of life, I haven’t yet purchased it. I signed up for the 5-day challenge because, after spending some time this evening crying out to God over how bad I felt about how short-tempered I was toward my kids all weekend and begging Him to help me be a better mom, I saw this post in my inbox and knew I needed the challenge. I volunteer at my church as the single moms’ ministry leader, and I think this study would be such a blessing to so many of the moms I work with. I know I could use it.

  9. I signed up for the challenge. I would love to have the book to do a study with friends! This topic is much needed to be talked about from the christian women view! Thanks so much for sharing and blessing us to grow!

  10. I won’t be home during the Today segments, but will DVR them. So excited that Lysa has the opportunity to share her ministry in front of a national audience. I want to win because I think this will be a perfect study to share with the ladies in our community groups. It’s definitely something any woman can relate to no matter the season she is in. Thanks for sharing!

  11. Love, love live you Ladies! I shared and will continue to because I am loving what I am hearing about from others who have read it! Wish we could afford it this year, but if not, then soon. Keep being amazing! Love watching your ministry grow. You make this look easy even though i know its far from. It’s a Banner Year 😉 keep at it!

  14. I purchased the book and look forward to reading it! This excerpt so resonates with me!

  16. I signed up for the challenge. I cannot tell you how defeated I can feel some days! Definitely getting the book on iBook as well!

  17. I’m up for the challenge … I can do all things threw Christ who strengthens me!

  18. I would love to win this book because I would like to give one to my friend so that both of us can conquer our “Unglued” moments together!!

  19. It’s the days that I try so hard and fail that get me. The sleepness nights, financial stresses, motherly and wifely duites, piled with everyday life wear me down to point that I feel like the world crashes around me. And I take it out on my family, and I hate it! I try harder to do better the next day but I feel like I make even bigger mistakes. Thank you Jesus for grace! I am in a season of learning what grace is and what it means to be forgiven.
    Thank you for your encouraging book! I would love to do a study with my MOPS group!

  20. Just today I met with a friend who was sharing her struggles with coming unglued with her daughter. And yes, I could relate since I do the same! Then reading this tonight, I know God is trying to get my attention. He is there to help me and give me strength and victory. I shared this link with my friend. I encouraged her to join the challenge. We can keep each other accountable. Thank you Lysa for being open and honest about your struggles.