Prayer Prompt #23: Is God's Mercy Deep Enough to Drown My Parenting Mistakes?

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end

Lamentations 3:22 ESV

Every close relationship will squeeze you, test you and - if you let it - refine you.  The relationship with your children is no different. Motherhood has exposed sins in me that I didn’t even know were there. And I thank God, because He loves me enough to reveal the places in my heart that need cleansing and renewal.  But I also shudder, because of the dangerous ways these flaws seep into my parenting and impact my children:

That exasperated look I gave that crushed his spirit.

The harsh words that slipped out when I was angry.

The whispered complaint that my child shouldn’t have heard.

These mistakes make me cringe because they are destructive to those I love most dearly, and I’ll wonder in exasperation with myself, “LORD, is Your mercy deep enough to cover this mistake?”

But then I remember: I’m speaking to the God that reconciled Joseph and his brothers; that called Peter who denied he even knew Jesus into service for Jesus; and that changed a persecutor of the early church into Paul the great evangelist.  So, yes, His mercy is enough to wash away all of my flaws and more. And so asking God to cover my mistakes even as He changes my heart has become a common prayer.

Dear LORD, my sin is ever before me and I hate it; how I wish I could be changed into Your likeness faster!  But You comfort me in these words, that “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies NEVER come to an end” (Lamentations 3:22 ESV). Each morning You renew your mercy to me and my family (Lamentations 3:23). You are good, and Your mercy is everlasting (Psalm 100:5 KJV). Smooth away my rough places and change me all to love.  Let the change in me be evident in the way I parent my children. Cover up the places where my sin has hurt them with Your grace. Erase my mistakes from their tender hearts with Your penetrating love. As You continue to refine me, may they see Jesus more clearly through how I relate to them. In Jesus’ name, amen.