Looking Back to Press Ahead

I once heard it put this way from Jerry Bridges: “Our worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.” Never underestimate God’s ability to be able to shower you in his grace. Looking through the timeline of decisions in my life, I have never been more thankful that God’s grace is sufficient. God shared three truths with me while evaluating previous life choices of mine.

Truth Number 1: Nothing I do, will do, or have done can separate me from God’s love. The same is true for you as well. In college, I tried to run far away from God. At one point, I thought I had lost Him. I was too busy looking over my shoulder to see if He was still chasing me that I missed the most important thing. I was running straight into His arms. Today, I live in the light of His love and under the shelter of His protection. Is there anything else we could ever ask for from our Father?

Truth Number 2: My self-worth is found in God. Boys, clothes, makeup, and the newest of everything ran my life. They were more important than anything. I was finding my importance, my identity, in the things of this world. Matthew 6:19-20 tells us not to lay up treasures here on earth but to store our treasures in heaven. My focus and my priorities were wrong. Once I understood the truth of where my identity is found, earthly things didn’t matter. Giving God the glory, living to make His name known, and growing closer to Him are what matter. There is no one else that can put you together and build you up like God can. He picked me up from rock bottom, dusted me off and pulled me into His loving arms. It is because of His love and grace that I am who I am today.

Truth Number 3: In the midst of my bad decisions, God protected me. God’s hand of protection is sometimes hard to see and/or feel when in the moment. Just because you cannot see or feel God’s protection does not mean that He is not protecting you. Do not let Satan blind you from seeing how God is protecting you. Take a step back and marvel in His protection and love.

Sometimes it takes evaluating where you have been to know where you are going. It takes being reminded of who you once were to see who you are now. I will forever be grateful that I did not need to clean myself up before turning to God. You don’t have to clean yourself up either before going to Him. He wants you to come, to trust Him, and to give your life to Him. Will you?

1. Are you running from God?
2. What is most important in your life?
3. How has God been protecting you?