Identity In Christ, Not In Perfection

We share how the pressure to look perfect pulls us from grace and why identity rooted in Christ frees us from constant performance. From old patterns of comparison to secure love in marriage, we land on a simple truth: you are already loved, already his.

• habits that help versus habits as identity
• condemnation, shame, and the lure of perfection
• comparison in the past and its cost
• secure love in marriage as a picture of grace
• motherhood fatigue and self-care with compassion
• the Holy Spirit’s seal and true approval
• heirs with Christ and purpose that endures
• working unto the Lord without striving
• living loved rather than earning worth

If this episode blessed you, share it with another mom who may be silently carrying the weight of perfection and comparison
And don't forget to follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode on Restoration For Mom
You can reach out by clicking the purple link in the show notes that says syn text

Transcript

Welcome And Safe Space For Moms

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Hey Mom and welcome back. I am so thankful that you're here. Whether you're folding laundry, cooking, or just trying to catch a quiet moment in a loud house, welcome back to restoration for mom. This is a safe place to breathe, heal, and grow in Christ. In the last episode we talked about condemnation, how the pressure for perfection and the fear of failure and error caused me to live in shame. That pressure to look depart me from truly experiencing God's grace for myself. And I want to be clear, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be put together. There's nothing wrong with teaching your kids manners of course or getting to church and showing up every service and being faithful. Those are great habits. They're so good. They're faith and growth habits, and I'm not against any of that. I do those things too. But the issue comes when we start placing our identity in those things. That's where it becomes a little iffy because we begin to perform. And instead of walking in God's grace and who He calls us to be, we start performing as if our worth comes from how well we do things. We start thinking that because we do this or that, because we serve so much or because we're faithful to attend every service or because we give our best and go above and beyond that somehow this becomes our identity. But I don't believe our identity lies there. Like I said, I am not against any of it. I am not against faithfully attending church or serving, and I'm not saying anything commitment or excellence. The issue is when we start believing we're good because of it. When we make those actions the source of our worth, our identity comes not from what we do, who we do it for or how well we can perform. None of that makes Christ love us any more or any less. God is God and He is good regardless of my efforts. He loves me and shows me favor regardless of how perfectly I execute anything. I am still a daughter even if I mess up. I am still a daughter, and my Father, He takes care of me. And yes, I need more growth and yes, I need to surrender more. But even still, I still belong to Christ and He takes care of me. So I was remembering when I was not saved. I was always trying to look good and trying to be better than the girl next to me. I would compare myself, I would compete and trying to win attention. I would silently measure myself against other girls, noticing who had the prettier face, the slimmer figure, or the more defined curves. That cycle of comparison and competition was normal to me back then. And looking back, I see the importance of finding my worth in God rather than in performance or appearance. And now as a married woman, I thank God I no longer have to compete with anyone. I have a husband who loves me for who I am. All of me and my body, my personality, my weakness, my strengths. He loves me. I don't have to fight for attention anymore. I don't have to compare my body or my appearance to anyone else because my husband's love is secure. Now that doesn't mean that just because I'm not competing for attention I shouldn't give my best to my husband. Of course he appreciates when I take care of myself, shaving my armpits or my legs and keeping up with the upper lip. Hello, we've all been there, right? Don't leave me hanging, moms. If you've been through this, hey, drop me a comment. Say amen. As moms we get tired and we get lost in motherhood. And sometimes we let things slide, but even then our husbands don't love us any less. They don't stop valuing us because we look rough some days. And that same concept applies with God. God doesn't love us any less when we're not at our best. He doesn't stop caring for us because we're tired, worn out, we're not looking the part. We don't have to compete for his love or his approval. If you're saved, you have been born again, the seal of approval is already over you. His name is the Holy Spirit. And even God says that our best efforts are like filthy rags. That's why basing your identity on your works will only take you so far. It may carry you for a season, but eventually it leads to a fall because performance cannot sustain identity. In the same way I am a husband's fully loved and accepted on my best and worst days. I am also the father's and I don't have to compete for his approval either. I am loved and fearfully and wonderfully made. God created me and you with purpose. He formed us in his image and his likeness, and what a joy it is to know that we belong to Christ, that He is for us and that His love is not earned, it's given. Something happens when you truly experience God's love and his approval. It is life changing and transformative. So with all that being said, know who you are, a daughter of God bought with a high price the blood of Jesus. It is not to be trampled on, but believe we are inheritors with Christ the King. And if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him. We share in this divine inheritance. So go therefore, serve God with your first fruits, and do your best for God for He is the one who called you and do everything unto Him. Colossians three twenty three and twenty four Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working for the Lord, not for human masters. Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward, it is the Lord Christ you are serving. You don't have to perform for love, compete for approval or earn your identity. You are already loved and you are already chosen. You are already his. If this episode blessed you, share it with another mom who may be silently carrying the weight of perfection and comparison. And don't forget to follow the podcast so you never miss a new episode on restoration for mom. And I would love, love, love to hear from you. I would love to know your thoughts or where you're from. You can reach out by clicking the purple link in the show notes that says syn text. And with all that being said, let's walk in grace, let's rest in who God says we are, and as always, let's rise together. God bless.