HAVE YOU EVER done something wrong, or fallen back on an old habit you thought you’d overcome, only to have feelings of unworthiness and guilt descend upon you? They settle with claws in your heart and whisper in your ear that to draw near to God is not an option: ‘You failed and so God is angry with you. You did it and you knew it was wrong. You call yourself a Christian? Hypocrite.’
For whoever those words resonate with - even if it’s just one person out in this wide world - I want you to know that there's hope! We serve a God who is SLOW to anger and abounding in steadfast love; a God who wants us to stop believing this harmful lie that draws us away from Him.
You see, we are naked and bare before God. While some may find this disconcerting – I have always found this to be incredibly liberating. It follows on that when we approach the Lord, He already knows the skeletons in our closet, our dark habits, messy emotions, and the current state of our life. It means that we do not have to face the pressure of trying to put into words the depths of our unbelief or the magnitude of the guilt we’re harbouring - BECAUSE HE ALREADY KNOWS AND HE LOVES US ANYWAY. He knows and He’s still moved by our drawing near to Him. He knows and He’s not angry with us. He sees us in our entirety and He absolutely adores us. And more than knowing – He understands. He understands because Jesus Himself walked the earth as a human being: 100% God and 100% man. Hebrews 4:15-16 says this:
He understands humanity, for as a Man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. So now we come freely and boldly to where love is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.
We can never say to Jesus: ‘You just don’t understand how difficult it is,’ because He does.
Jesus doesn’t leave us with the skeletons or the habits or the mess. He holds our hand, declares us to be restored, and teaches us to embrace the Living Word: the Word that renews our mind and transforms us. The Word teaches us that we are no longer orphans, no longer bound to sin, no longer unworthy. The Word declares that we are now citizens of Heaven, children of God and co-heirs with Christ.
So, don’t be afraid to draw near to Him. The truth of who you are in Christ is infinitely greater than any feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness that could dare come against you. We are worthy to come before Him because the Blood of Jesus has made us worthy.
Of course it makes God sad when we sin; and to grieve His heart must never be downplayed. That being said, His heart is always to draw us closer to Him – even when we mess up. I encourage you that if you’re avoiding time in His Presence and in the Word, please return today. His heart is to restore you. Repent for what you’ve done and let Him love on you!
When we grow in the knowledge of His love for us, we grow in our love for Him. Think of someone you love. You don’t want to hurt them, right? It’s like that with God: the more you grow in your love for Him, the less you’ll be tempted to do the things that hurt Him.
You don't have to carry the guilt any longer: just run to Him today, receive mercy's kiss and feel the burden lift.