Do you ever look at other families and assume that they have it all together and yours doesn’t?

Do you look at other pristine and put-together moms or dads and think that you are a hot mess?

Do you look at the successes of your friends while focusing on all of your failures?

There is a profound and often overlooked aspect of our family life that can sabotage us as parents—the desire to be “normal.”

That family is perfect. Mine is hanging on by a thread. 

That mom is beautiful. I’m embarrassed to leave the house.

That friend is a rock star. I’m a fake.

Through a series of poignant, relatable stories, Catherine explores how this quest for normalcy infiltrates our lives, undermining our parenting and our individual purpose. Our deeply personal struggles and wounds—from infertility and abandonment to financial instability and physical imperfections—heighten the longing to be like "everyone else."

But those lives that appear perfect are far from it. Everyone battles their own unique challenges that keep them from this mythical place called “Normal.”

The pervasive desire for normalcy is a dangerous and sabotaging force. Being normal is a fiction, a fairy tale, a farce manufactured by the enemy of our souls. And on some level, we all struggle with it.

We desperately need a shift in perspective.

Our unique struggles and disabilities are precisely what draw us closer to God, if we will let them.

The lie of “Normal” is one of the devil’s greatest hits, but in our deepest needs and struggles, God’s grace abounds and leads us to true fulfillment and strength.

This episode supplies a much-needed pep talk to break free from the quest for normal and embrace God’s grace in every need.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Normal (Blog) by Catherine Segars

Ep. 119: Finding Freedom from Sexual Sin and Brokenness (w/ Dr. Lina Abujamra)

Ep. 120: How the Prosperity Gospel Fueled Purity Culture and Undermined Our Parenting (w/ Dr. Lina Abujamra)

2 Corinthians 12:9

Philippians 4:19

Do you ever look at other families and assume that they have it all together and yours doesn’t?
Do you look at other pristine and put-together moms or dads and think that you are a hot mess?
Do you look at the successes of your friends while focusing on all of your failures?
There is a profound and often overlooked aspect of our family life that can sabotage us as parents—the desire to be “normal.”
That family is perfect. Mine is hanging on by a thread. 
That mom is beautiful. I’m embarrassed to leave the house.
That friend is a rock star. I’m a fake.
Through a series of poignant, relatable stories, Catherine explores how this quest for normalcy infiltrates our lives, undermining our parenting and our individual purpose. Our deeply personal struggles and wounds—from infertility and abandonment to financial instability and physical imperfections—heighten the longing to be like "everyone else."
But those lives that appear perfect are far from it. Everyone battles their own unique challenges that keep them from this mythical place called “Normal.”
The pervasive desire for normalcy is a dangerous and sabotaging force. Being normal is a fiction, a fairy tale, a farce manufactured by the enemy of our souls. And on some level, we all struggle with it.
We desperately need a shift in perspective.
Our unique struggles and disabilities are precisely what draw us closer to God, if we will let them.
The lie of “Normal” is one of the devil’s greatest hits, but in our deepest needs and struggles, God’s grace abounds and leads us to true fulfillment and strength.
This episode supplies a much-needed pep talk to break free from the quest for normal and embrace God’s grace in every need.
EPISODE RESOURCES:
<a href="https://catherinesegars.com/2024/09/29/normal-2/">Normal</a> (Blog) by Catherine Segars
Ep. 119: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/finding-freedom-from-sexual-sin-and-brokenness-w-dr-lina-abujamra-ep-119">Finding Freedom from Sexual Sin and Brokenness</a> (w/ Dr. Lina Abujamra)
Ep. 120: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/christian-parent-crazy-world/how-the-prosperity-gospel-fueled-purity-culture-and-undermined-our-parenting-w-dr-lina-abujamra-ep-120">How the Prosperity Gospel Fueled Purity Culture and Undermined Our Parenting</a> (w/ Dr. Lina Abujamra)
2 Corinthians 12:9
Philippians 4:19

The Christian Parent, Crazy World podcast with Catherine Segars is dedicated to helping you be a godly parent in an ungodly world. Catherine is an expert in Christian Apologetics for parents and every episode helps moms and dads understand what is going on in our current culture and how Christians can and should respond.

Topics covered on this podcast include:
What to Do If Your Child Walks Away from the Faith
Can Our Words Change the Future?
Why Are So Many Kids Falling Away from The Faith?
13 Ways To Be a Better Parent This Year
5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Gen Z
What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?
How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview 
Hope and Strategy for Parents of Prodigal Children

Want to read some of Catherine's most popular Christian parenting articles? Check them out here: https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

The Christian Parent, Crazy World podcast with Catherine Segars is dedicated to helping you be a godly parent in an ungodly world. Catherine is an expert in Christian Apologetics for parents and every episode helps moms and dads understand what is going on in our current culture and how Christians can and should respond.
Topics covered on this podcast include:
<ul>
<li>What to Do If Your Child Walks Away from the Faith</li>
<li>Can Our Words Change the Future?</li>
<li>Why Are So Many Kids Falling Away from The Faith?</li>
<li>13 Ways To Be a Better Parent This Year</li>
<li>5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know About Gen Z</li>
<li>What Critical Foundation Do Many Parents Miss When Discipling Their Kids?</li>
<li>How To Teach Your Kids the Christian Worldview </li>
<li>Hope and Strategy for Parents of Prodigal Children</li>
</ul>
Want to read some of Catherine's most popular Christian parenting articles? Check them out here: https://www.crosswalk.com/author/catherine-segars/

Christian Parent, Crazy World is a podcast dedicated to helping you be a godly parent in an ungodly world.

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