I had been swimming in my mommy guilt for days. I could see it in my daughter’s beautiful blue eyes. I had messed up. 

I apologized of course, but the wound would take longer to heal than my quickly offered “I’m so sorry, baby.” So we slowly danced, she and I, with our still-swirling emotions. 

Out of curiosity and a need for some companionship in the area, I started a conversation on Facebook about the struggle of mommy guilt. Later that day, a sweet mom messaged me privately telling of her own pain in this area. Her story began with “I should have known better,” and ended with “I’m a better mom today,” but in the middle of those two very normal statements she waded through an ocean of guilt.  My heart physically hurt for her. 

I know the ocean called mommy guilt, and it is an exhausting swim because guilt weighs us down.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about giving grace more space to rest in my life. But how do we do that? How do we let grace live and breathe and cause guilt to leave?  The answer is found in God’s Word:

“Therefore, now no condemnation awaits those who are living in Jesus the Anointed, the Liberating King, because when you live in the Anointed One, Jesus, a new law takes effect. The law of the Spirit of life breathes into you and liberates you from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 (Tʜᴇ Vᴏɪᴄᴇ)

• Grace lives when we focus on Jesus our Liberating King.
• Grace breathes when we invite the Spirit of God to clear the air of any traces of condemning guilt.
• Guilt leaves when we realize its power over us is dead. 

Sadly, guilt is a bully and it will chase us down and call us ugly over and over again. But the greater truth is guilt has no place in the space of grace. God gave us his Word as a lifeline to stir up our hope. When we are drowning in an ocean of guilt, grace reminds us we are set free in Jesus. Moms, like everybody, need a reminder to reclaim our freedom from time to time. 

Who can you encourage with this truth today?

Stacey Thacker is a wife and the mother of four vibrant girls. She is a writer and speaker who loves God’s Word. Her passion is to connect with women and encourage them in their walks with God. You can find her blogging at staceythacker.com and hanging out on Twitter and Instagram @staceythacker. 

Hope for the Weary Mom is available wherever books are sold.