You Don’t Need to Hide

“These amazing moms told me they could relate; they prayed for me and reminded me I don’t need to hide.”

“Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16 (NIV)

Have you ever gotten into bed at the end of a long day and just wanted to cry? You’re exhausted after a full day of being on the go with the kids, and then you snap! Maybe it’s because you’ve just made multiple meals your children didn’t eat, and your patience is wearing thin. Or you just took your kids to the park or a school event and the comparison to other moms is making you feel less than. Maybe you were with other moms and the gossip started. You joined in so you don’t feel left out. 

This was me. I crawled into bed and pulled the covers over my head and cried. I felt so shameful for losing patience with my kids and yelling at them unnecessarily.  I felt shame because I wasn’t like that mom, and I was comparing her life to mine. I felt shame because I didn’t stand up and say no when I heard gossip. The only thing running through my head while under my covers was, “You are a sinner, you are not worthy, you are terrible.” 

Can you relate?

I knew I couldn’t let these thoughts take over anymore. I asked God to forgive me of my sins that day, and then I picked up my phone and told my small group of mom friends what I had been struggling with. These amazing moms told me they could relate; they prayed for me and reminded me I don’t need to hide.

James tells us to confess our sins to each other, not for forgiveness, which we go directly to God for (1 John 1), but to be healed. That doesn’t mean we have to confess our sins publicly, but rather to rely on close, godly friends for prayer in the midst of our struggles. 

Do we confess our sins so we have a clean slate with God? Do we confess our sins so we can secure our place in heaven? No, we confess our sins so we can be free of them and enjoy all God has for us. 

You and I are not alone in our struggles. We don’t have to hide away in shame. Instead, we can use the tools given to us, prayer and righteous friends, to be free and healed. 

Action Steps: 

• Next time you want to pull the covers over your head at the end of a long day, reach for your phone instead and ask a friend for prayer. James tells us the prayer of a righteous person (anyone who has accepted Jesus, Romans 5:1) is powerful and effective! 

• When you see a mom struggling with patience, comparison, etc. say a prayer for her.

• Reach out to your mom friends and ask how you can pray for them.

Written by Rachel, free and healed mom of 2

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