Staying pure and true in today’s world is incredibly difficult without a strong foundation. We can feel like we’re doing great and on top of the world, and then the first invitation we get to do something that we know is not in our best interest, we jump at it. The idea of “having fun” and “being young and free” is often intriguing. But the sad truth is that after we have this “fun,” we’re reminded of what we’re claiming to live for, and we realize that our actions aren’t in line with this life of purity that we often claim to live. It’s hard to come to this realization, because we often don’t want to face the realities of the things we’ve done.
The book of Mark asks us in chapter 8, verse 36, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” We’re challenged with the differentiation, “For am I seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ,” as Galatians 1:10 states. With these verses and thoughts in mind, it’s difficult not to question some of our actions and wrongdoings sometimes, which is completely normal.
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It’s easy to also feel remorse and regret when contemplating choices of our past, leading us to feel as if we aren’t capable of coming out of whatever dark place we might be in. This feeling of being trapped is one of the worst feelings that a person can feel. Maybe you don’t feel this remorse, which is also normal because this feeling of solidarity and harmony in groups is just as refreshing sometimes. But, at some point, everyone realizes, “Maybe I shouldn’t have done that” or “I wish someone had stopped me."
The good news is that regardless of how convinced we are that our choices have turned us into someone who can never be “pure” again, that feeling of being captured is a lie. Though it’s scary to think of sometimes, Satan doesn’t want us to feel this sense of forgiveness and unanimity. He wants us to feel stuck. He loves when we feel defeated and unforgivable. He loves when we feel anything short of redeemed, for that’s what God has done for us: He has redeemed us. Anything along the lines of this feeling of restitution makes Satan cringe. This is why God promises us that He will always accept us back. Regardless of how low we feel, we’re ALWAYS welcomed back. So do it. Go back to the Lord who wants you to be His more than anything. He wants you to run to Him in times of happiness and joy, as well as times of sadness and emptiness. He wants to celebrate with us, but He always wants us to be constantly reassured of how much He cares for us. Joel 2:13 says, “ …Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving, kindness and relenting of evil.” He exclaims how He wants us in Zechariah 1:3, “Return to me… that I may return to you.” For more reassurance and exclamations of how badly He wants us to return to Him, see:
- Nehemiah 1:9
- Jeremiah 24:7
- Lamentations 3:40
- 2 Chronicles 15:4
- Jeremiah 3:22
Pray about it, and live in the abounding joy of what He promises us. For, "When I am weak, my God is strong."
