In my experience, the greatest revelation I've had of God's grace is when I have felt the least deserving of it.
When everything's going well and we feel good about ourselves, it feels easier to approach God... but it's another story when we feel at our worst. Maybe you had a bad day and reacted in a way you shouldn't have, or you got into an argument at work, or maybe you've just made some bad choices in the past and now you're living life swallowed up by guilt.
It's in these places that we feel our most vulnerable, and instinctively, we want to hide away from God, just like Adam did in Genesis 3:9-10.
"Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Adam wasn't hiding because he was naked. He was naked before and it had never changed anything. He was actually hiding because of shame from the sin he had just committed, and it was in that moment that something changed within Adam to where it effected how he saw himself.
Sin still has this same effect on us today. When we know we've really messed up, we feel exposed in the shame and guilt that follows, and subsequently, we want to run from God.
Whenever I felt that I couldn't go to God because of something I had done, I felt Him ask me these questions - why would I want to run from Him when I know ALL of my sins have already been dealt with by the blood of Jesus? Was His sacrifice not greater than my sin? Was the shedding of His blood not enough to cover whatever mistake I had just made? Powerful questions.
This totally changed my perspective on what happens when I've blown it - what Jesus has done for me is infinitely so much greater.
Thank God we no longer have to hide anymore. All of our sins have been dealt with once and for all. There's nothing God has missed; no sin that hasn't been covered!
The act of Jesus giving up His life for you was more powerful than any sin you could ever commit and any failure or mistake you could ever walk through. And now by accepting His love and forgiveness, you actually please God more through your faith in what He's done for you.
And did you know that you are showing the greatest faith when you run to God, right in the middle of your mess.
So I'm praying this encourages you to go to Him right in whatever you're dealing with today. Choose to lay the guilt down at His feet, and instead pick up His love, mercy, and grace.
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (NKJV)
Kelly :)