What Do I Do With This Sadness?
Friday November 22, 2019
When many of us waken up from the haze of our addiction and reflect on the harm we have caused in our relationships, or when we begin to make an inventory of our character defects, a well of deep sorrow may overwhelm us. The question to ask ourselves in this moment is, "Am I saddened enough by the painful mess I am in to be willing to come before God and admit that I am powerless over my self-willed ways?" God will forgive us and lead us forward to a new life with Him in recovery if we are willing to follow Him in all our ways.
God intended us to feel sorrow about what's gone wrong in our lives, but He wants us to use that sorrow as motivation to turn our hearts towards Him. Wrong is wrong. Harm is harm. We can’t escape the reality of the harm we have caused but we can offer it, together with ourselves and our future, to the God who created us and who will bring new life out of the ashes of our past.
It’s not enough to regret the past. Godly sorrow that the Bible speaks of is the kind that brings us to our knees in repentance before God. We own up to having lived a self-obsessed life with no consideration of the impact it had on others. Godly sorrow also realizes that Jesus came to earth to suffer and die so that we could be free from the penalty of our sins. It’s the type of sorrow that fills our hearts with gratitude as we realize how much Jesus has done for us. Let’s not wallow in regret and shame. Let’s allow our sorrow to move us closer to God and, with His help, live a life of doing what is right and good.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Forgive me for my attitude and actions that brought hurt into my life and into the lives of others who cared for me. Without You, I know I am powerless to live a satisfying life. Help me not to wallow in regret and despair over my past life but to live according to Your principles and share Your goodness with others going forward. Amen
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