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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

  4. So excited that you will be on the Today show to share your book and God’s word. I can’t wait to watch!

  5. Wow! It looks like I was not the only one that needed to read this devotional (or who wants to win the book ;). Lysa thank you for your honesty and insight into the ugly subject of becoming Unglued. I say this with a smile but it really is anything but funny to “lose it”. The fall out hurts everyone and it feels so defeating as a wife and wife. I prayerfully look forward to the 5 day challange.

  6. Oh, my gosh. When I read your post today it was like Lysa had glimplse into my life. I have wondered these things for a while now. How is it that I can go to church and Praise God and feel Him so strongly and then when I get home the least little thing sets me off.

    i feel like such a hyprocrite sometimes. I don’t like to scream at my kids, but it’s like I can’t help it, the more i try to stop, the more i do it.

    What can I do to stop this vicious cycle.

  9. I’ve got the DVR set for the Today Show today and tomorrow. Looking forward to her segments.

  11. I feel Unglued and don’t like that about myself. I know my husband and three young kids would like it if I was doing better in this area. Plus, I know several others moms in my boat who would benefit. Thanks for the chance!

  13. This may be the first Bible Study God actually wrote for me through you, uncanny how this blog post jumped out at me. I would like to win the Grand Prize so I can learn to become Unglued and then share my testimony with others. I am excited to turn on the Today Show and watch Lysa give her personal testimony on mainstream media!

  14. I would love to win this package as my husband and I have been chosen to help lead a new church plant. We have a TON of young families in this church plant! This would be a WONDERFUL study for our young mom’s with many kiddos! 🙂

  15. I have the book on my kindle, and I would live to win this bundle. I teach a group of ladies on Monday nights and I think this would be great for my ladies. I could give the extra book to someone that can’t afford it. We just finished A Confident Heart a few months ago and several ladies have asked about this book. Also, I want sign up for the challenge but I couldn’t figure out how.

  16. I can’t afford to poo purchase book and tried to sign up for the challenger but didn’t see where to sign up, will try to see from a computer. Also can’t watch her on tv. I would love to win a copy of this study. I really need this study. I need help with this in my life.

  17. Well, currently I learned that I need to look at others as I was looking through God’s eyes and not my own. in doing this i can love and serve others as God has and wants me to. Not to mention what comes from my lips..lol I kinda started challenging myself and praying that God will help me with this matter. I made a lot of changes in myself,family and marriage.
    I know I could bring this to the Womens Ministry and challenge them and God come out on top!!
    Praying I win!!
    Love All that Proverbs 31 has to offer!!

  18. I signed up for the 5 day challenge…would like to win to further release myself from the ugly strongholds in my life.

  19. Signed up for the 5-day challenge. Will be sharing this link also with my friends on Twitter & Facebook. Watching for Lysa on the Today show.

  20. I’m planning to watch The Today Show tomorrow, and have signed up for the challenge!!