"Passionate Housewives," pt 2

What Are We Desperate For?

…Desperation is a condition which is natural to mankind. Jeremiah 17:9 tells us that our hearts are desperately wicked. All of mankind is hopelessly in need of a Savior, and we are doomed to Hell without Him. Scripture tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). If we claim Christ, then in essence we are admittedly desperate for God. We know that we can do nothing without Jesus and that we can do all things (that He has called us to do) through Him (Philippians 4:13)

…As Christian women, we must learn to let Jesus satisfy our souls, for He will do a much better job at quenching our thirst than we ever could. Our attempts to satisfy ourselves will always leave us thirsting for more, never pleased or content – desperate indeed (John 4:13).

If you are feeling overwhelmed and desperate, you won’t find the answer in yet another self-help book or in a temporal bottle of pills. More self-esteem won’t quiet those inner yearnings or fears any more than a “better” body or new clothes will. Only Christ can satisfy your anxious heart and give you peace. Long for Him “as the deer pants for the water brooks” (Psalm 42:1). When your souls is disquieted, hope in God and praise His Holy name (Psalm 42:11).

An Answer to “Me-ology”

Two and a half years ago, when Jennie called to tell me her “hair was on fire” (a Southern term for being all “riled up”), I knew we had to do something. So what was so hair-raising? A friend had alerted Jennie to yet another “me-ology” book – that’s how we describe books that encourage women to “pamper” rather than “sanctify” their flesh. Page after page, the author told women it was okay to live for self – in fact, if you don’t feel like your relationship with God is productive, perhaps it’s your family’s fault for distracting you from the “important” things you could be doing!

This self-centered philosophy is a fallacy that we as Christian women must guard against. If we find ourselves in a position where we feel that serving our families gets in the way of serving Christ’s Kingdom, then we should fall on our faces and repent, because, chances are, if we’re not serving the Kingdom, we’re serving ourselves – not anyone else.

Serving our family is serving the Kingdom. Serving our husband and our little ones is serving Christ Himself – and neglecting them so that we can pursue self interests is neglecting the Kingdom of God – and Jesus Himself! “Inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me” (Matthew 24:45)

Ordinary Housewives Passionate for God

…While it may seem counterintuitive, the lesson is true: living more for self will only keep us further from that true we’re after as women. God wants us to know that we can’t do it all, so that He can do it through us – so that He can equip us with the grace and strength we need to accomplish His will – which includes serving Him by serving others. Then, at last, we can shed the millstone of fear and desperation and get truly passionate!

You can call us housewives, homemakers, or keepers at home; but we’re not desperate. Whatever challenges God brings us in our role as women, we have purposed to not lose heart or despair. And when we do fall into sin, God graciously reminds us of our utter reliance on and need for His sustaining grace…