I threw a good old-fashioned temper tantrum a few weeks ago.  It was one of those kinds that involved stomping around, shutting the door (a little hard), throwing myself on the bed, and sobbing.  I don’t know what got into me.  Maybe it was the sibling rivalry between my oldest son and daughter, or the baby crying, or feeling stressed about work, feeling overwhelmed by what is all going on…any of it.

I laid on my bed with my hands covering my face, crying, and telling the Lord the following:

“I’m done.  I give up.  I can’t do this.  I don’t want to work.  I don’t want the kids to yell.  I am tired.  I know You are in control, but down here, I’m losing my control!  It’s Yours, take it!”

I needed to admit that I couldn’t do it all on my own.  I’ve been feeling like a circus clown who is juggling way too many things, and trying to do so with a smile.  I know that my life is a piece of cake compared to so many, and yet, I needed the world to stop that night.  I needed that moment where the Father whispered to me, “It’s okay.  You don’t have to do it all on your own.”

Do you feel that way at times?

When I woke up the next morning, I immediately began thinking about the fit I threw.  During this time, the following verse came to me:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. – Philippians 4:12

These boldly, beautiful words written by Paul during his imprisonment have stayed with me since that tearful night on my bed.  These words serve as a challenging reminder for me to seek peace within contentment, and not perfection.

Perfection and contentment intermingle at times.  Perfection seems to linger in the shadows of contentment, and because of this, peace can get lost.  To be content all of the time is very challenging, so why do we make it harder on ourselves by expecting perfection as well?

My challenge is to walk each day with the following thoughts:

• No one expects perfection. 
• Each day offers the choice to pursue peace over perfection.
• It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, so take steps to prevent this.
• Contentment is hard to reach, but worth striving for.
• God finds us in our messes so that we can learn from His message.
• If I expect my children to be content with what they have, I need to model this as well.
• Conversely, if I desire my children to choose peace over perfection, then I should do the same.
• Faith is living each day knowing that the Lord is in control.

What are your challenges?  How do you handle lack of contentment, perfectionism, and feeling overwhelmed?  I’d love to hear your thoughts!