Feel Unforgivable? Don't Worry!!

Do you feel like you have made so many mistakes, had so many failures, or committed so many sins that it is "too late" for you?  Or that God can't forgive you anymore?  This is only discouragement from Satan.  If Jesus died on the cross and rose again for one person, then it is for all.  If He paid the price for one sin, then He also paid for all.  (1 Peter 3:18)  If He promised that no one could remove you from His hand, than not even you can do it!  (John 10:28)  Remember the prodigal son, and his full restoration!  (Luke 15)  If you don't know the Lord, take a look at Paul, who was once Saul and gave approval to commit murder of Christians! (Acts 8:1)

Anyone who truly repents is forgiven!  The fact that you are bothered by your sin shows that God has not "given you over" to a depraved mind, and since conviction is a gift of the Holy Spirit - it is evidence that He has not abandoned you!!  So forgiveness depends not on the sin, or on the amount and variety of sins, but on your repentant heart.  Never let yourself think that you are damaged beyond repair, or that your loved ones are damaged beyond repair because of what you or anyone else has done to them.  Trust in the saving and healing power of God - it's WHAT HE DOES!!!  Nothing you can say or do has the power to change the 100% forgiveness of God by even 1%, or a part of 1%!!

It is important that you do two things:  1) Truly sit at the feet of Jesus, and invite Him to examine your heart with you every day.  Let yourself see it with Him, and cry with real regret and grief, as needed.  Let Him see everything - if you feel lost, or hopeless, depressed, or angry.  He sees anyway, but if you sit with Him over it, He will begin to heal you!  2)  Believe in the wonderful future God has for you!  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11.

Notice in the verse above, what He DIDN'T say:  ...."unless you blow it a bunch of times", or ...."unless you purposely disobey", or ANYTHING.  Here is what He did say about blowing it:  "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6).

As for any possibility that you may have committed "the unpardonable sin" as spoken of in Matthew 9:34: ("Assuredly, I [Jesus] say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation")  -that just isn't possible for a Christian, because the unpardonable sin is simply this:  refusing to believe that He is our only means of salvation, and relying on something else.  There is no alternative salvation plan.  To believe that is to despise Jesus' sacrifice for you!!   For the Christian, there is this promise:  “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus…”  Romans 8: 1, and this: "He Who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."  Phil. 1:6. 

If you are not yet a Christian, you still have time, because this sin is only unforgivable if you die without accepting Him as your Savior.  (But don't waste time - come to Him now!!  He sure does love you and long to have you!!!)

An Odd Solution

Years ago, when I was really down about some things, I went for council to a retired Pastor, who was close to 90 years old.  He welcomed me warmly, and, seated in his tiny trailer, I was soon regaling him with all my problems! 

After listening patiently for awhile, he interrupted me by raising his arms and saying loudly, "Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!!"  I'm sure my surprise showed on my face!  In somewhat of a stunned silence, the thought flashed briefly across my mind to wonder if maybe I should call the "white coats" to come and get him!  I thought he'd lost his mind and was just a bit embarrassed for him!   I was irritated that he'd interrupted, and almost started up again with my complaints.  But knowing him as well as I did, I knew he really wasn't crazy, and must mean something deeper.

He explained that if I would just take time each day to praise our God and be thankful to Him, I would begin to see things differently.  I fought the temptation to tell him he just didn't understand what was going on, and how stressful it was to me, and that I needed him to give me solutions!!   But something just told me to smile and thank him, and I left to go to the gym, where I walked around the track in the cold Wyoming winters.

As I walked, I began to thank God for things, and praise Him for what He created.  I thanked him for green grass, the sunshine, the birds, my family, my good health, and praised Him for His majesty and perfection, His plan of salvation, His beauty and thoughtfulness, and on and on, for a long time while I walked.  It was totally new to me.  Before, I'd just asked Him for things!  I cannot describe to you the wondrous changes made in my heart and mind that day!  A huge smile replaced the worried frown and whining self-pity, and I began the journey of freedom from my circumstances and negative influences of other people, into the profound peace of God!

Did my problems go away that day?  No.  They just no longer had the power to disturb me.  Psalm 16:8 says, "I have set the LORD continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  In Isaiah 54:10 our God says, "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed...".  If we spend our time complaining to God and others, we have lost sight of God's wonders, and nullified our faith that God is MORE THAN ABLE to provide what we need!  Anything and anyone has the power to shake and upset us, and even depress us!  By praising Him, we take hold of it, as we focus on Him and what He does and Who He is!!  I know that day, that I was very pleasing to God!  I stopped seeing things from my own small viewpoint, and started seeing them through the eyes of my mighty and loving God!!  

That old retired Pastor went to be with the Lord years ago, but his council to be thankful and give praise is still affecting me today!  Just as he said, I began to see things differently!  Just having this different, happier mindset, my problems became easier to solve, I became a better mom, friend, etc., and the burden was lifted from me, to Jesus' broad shoulders!!  It will work for you too, I promise.  :)

Today and the next few days:  Take time to thank and praise God for anything and everything!  Just look up at Him, seated on the throne of your heart, and worship Him, trusting Him to be all that you need, now and forever more!

SO THE WORST IS HAPPENING......

When I was visiting my daughter in Wyoming, we ran into a couple of friends of hers in the store.  I INSTANTLY knew something was very wrong with one of them - the youngest one.  She was devastated, and as much as she tried to hide it, it showed in her glistening eyes and trembling smile.  Later, I learned from my daughter that she was in the beginning stages of separation from a husband who had been cheating on her.  She had several young children at home, and was absolutely, thoroughly and profoundly.....lost.....not knowing what to do, or where to go.  My heart ached for her, and I longed to help her somehow! I've been through the pain of divorce with young children, and no income!! But without knowing her, and having her confidence, there was simply no way I could speak with her.  

She is the inspiration for this blog.  I prayed for her, and the Lord began to speak with me about how He longs for these broken people to know Him, and to know the feeling of being in His arms, safe, loved, secure!  He reminded me of how He cared for me, and how His plans for me were wonderful, in spite of my own failures and times of running away......plans to give me a great future!!  He saw me through the blood of the cross, and I was white as snow!  It was HIS ache in my heart for that young girl, and HIS longing being expressed to be of real help and living hope for each one of you now!

So if the worst is happening.......BE ENCOURAGED!!  We will go through this journey together - the Lord, you, and I - and you will be amazed at the wonders He plans for you!!  The way is hard, no doubt.  Long, too.  But I promise you that you can do it.......not because I did, but because He has overcome the world, and everything in it, including THIS pain, and THESE problems!!!  

Today, and in the next few days:  Find a few minutes to just sit before the Lord, in a quiet place,.....and don't talk too much.  Spend most of the time just listening to Him, and beholding Him.  It's ok if your mind wanders, even a lot of times....just keep returning your attention to Him, without being hard on yourself.  Invite Him to examine your heart, and tell Him you are ready and willing to walk down ANY path with Him.  There is nothing new under the sun, and He knows every feeling and thought you have, so it's ok to show Him your heart - it can only help you.  Decide today to trust Him, and not yourself. :)