Last week we talked about how our DNA does not change based on whether we are doing amazing or have made some terrible mistakes. God does not disown us. He wants to wash us clean, forgive us, heal us so we do not keep making the same mistakes. God wants to make us whole. If God does not stop being our Father when we mess up, why do we feel distant from Him?
Firstly, we have to remind ourselves that our feelings are not facts. Just because He feels distant does not mean He is. Sometimes we are not even aware when He is closest to us. So let’s not be guided by our feelings, they will let us down. God has promised in His word that He will never leave nor forsake us. Deuteronomy 31:8 says, “ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” So why then do we allow our mistakes to discourage us? Why do we let something that Jesus took care of on the cross make us afraid and pull away from God?
Because let’s be honest. When we do something we know is wrong, we do not go running to the throne room and say, “Oh God, did you see that? How bad was it, I am so sorry I did that!” No, we pretend that God didn’t see it. Then we pretend like it didn’t happen. It is in that space where we try to hide our sin that we miss out on the very grace we need to move on from it. It is in that space we feel distant from our loving Father. Not because He moved away. But because we went and hid. Just like Adam and Eve in the garden, when we make a mistake, we see our “nakedness”. We see our humanity and its ugly, so we hide. Just like in the garden, Papa God always comes calling our name and drawing us back to Himself.
I saw this picture recently when I was going through a meh week. I have my bench, where I go to sit and meet with Papa God. Some people have a prayer room or a physical place they go to pray and talk to God. Mine is a park bench, not in any physical location but one I can picture in my mind. Looking at the bench from the back, Papa God was sitting on the right side of the bench. I went and I sat a little to the left, close to the middle but closer to the left than to the right. I just saw and heard Papa God say with a light hearted laugh, “Come over here” as He pulled me closer to Himself. It was funny the way He did it and I realised that I was creating distance somewhere where there didn’t need to be. I was creating space between me and Him that He didn’t want there and let’s face it, I didn’t want it there either. But something in me was pulling away and God was saying, do not let outside circumstances or emotions or whatever it may be, move you. Stay right here.
I hear God saying the same to you as you read this. What is it that is creating space between you and Papa God? Your spiritual DNA has not changed. You still belong to Him. He has not left you or forsaken you, so do not create distance where there doesn’t need to be distance. Draw in closer to Papa God. You need to remind yourself, I am my Father’s son/ daughter whether I mess up or don’t. Whether I read my bible everyday like I said I would in the Bible in a year Bible plan I signed up to or miss a few days along the way.
There is nothing we can do to earn God’s love. All the things God asks us to do are to help us in life. Two weeks ago, we looked at Psalm 139. Verse 24 in some translations says, “See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on and lead me to your glorious everlasting way – the path that brings me back to you.” We can choose a path in life that creates distance between us and God and one that creates pain along the way, or we can choose to ask God to show us the way back into closeness with Him. He really is that good. But first, we need to stop hiding what’s bothering us. Bring it to your Father, He wants to help you but only if you’ll let Him.
Love and blessings,
Melissa Tsingano.
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