I come from a long line of stubborn women. I get it from my mother, who got it from her mother. And my daughter? She can hold her own in any argument. We’re a family of hard-headed women.
I just hate to admit I’m wrong, and that’s not such a good thing for relationships. (Ask my dear husband.) But being able to own our shortcomings and apologize improves communication and builds healthy relationships, especially with God.
Repentance is key to relationship with God
Repentance is a place I’d rather not go. I mean, who wants to bring up their own mistakes? But confessing our sins to God is a key to forgiveness. It’s the door to entering His presence, and it’s a vital step to spiritual refreshment and growth. Acts 3:19, 20a says it better than I ever could:
God’s Invitation:
No matter how much I complain and whine on the freeway at 5 o’clock, no matter how resentful I get during a conflict with my husband, God’s arms are open wide. No matter how much my attitude stinks, God wants me. He waits for me to turn to Him even when I doubt His love for me. I have an open invitation to return and repent.
God’s Gift:
If I get the grumps and walk around for days stressed out and snapping at my people, junk builds up inside me. When life’s trials get tough, my burdens grow heavy.
Repentance offers a chance to lay it all down at the cross. When we confess our sinful attitudes and actions, God forgives. Having our hearts wiped clean brings relief. There’s something life-giving about getting on the same page with God and agreeing with Him that we’re sinners. It frees us to enter into His presence more deeply; we receive mercy and grace.
Repentance is a door to Joy and Growth
The power of repentance became real to me during a bout with depression several years ago. It was the year I prayed earnestly in January for more joy. By March a dark cloud of depression set over me. It settled and stayed 6 months. I could hardly believe it. I kept ranting at God, “THIS is how you’re answering my prayer for more joy!??”
After many dark months, I felt drawn to repent for my joyless attitude towards life. [I don’t mean to imply depression is sin; please see note below.] I asked God to forgive my lack of gratitude for His gifts, and I began to look for things to thank Him for. I repented of my blindness to the beauty of life, and I began to look for little things to enjoy each day. I prayed, “Lord, help me to enjoy you and the life you’ve given me.”
Each morning, I started my quiet time by repenting from anger, self-pity, whatever came to mind. Little by little, my outlook changed, and life looked brighter. God began to free me from depression. Six weeks later, it was totally gone.
Repentance is a game-changer. It can help us navigate through hard times and come out stronger on the other side. Repentance can turn around a sour attitude or an ungrateful, complaining heart. It can bring about breakthrough in relationships, and it helps us grow closer to God.
Now it’s your turn: Thoughts?
Note: Friend, I don’t mean to suggest that depression is sin, or that it’s your fault if you’re depressed. I’m simply sharing my own experience. Clinical depression can have both physical and spiritual causes; God can use counselors and doctors to help alleviate it.
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So many beautiful things happen in our hearts when we take the risk of really looking at our sin, calling it by name, and handing our wills over to the One who made us. Thank you, Betsy, for your vulnerable sharing here.
Thanks for reading, Michele. It’s true, so risky, but beautiful things happen.
Repentance is such an incredible invitation from God to lay down the past and walk into the future brand new. It’s amazing how something so sweet can be so hard. Yup, stubbornness, pride and the lot! Love your encouragement to see our Father’s arms open wide. Thank you for sharing your heart so openly. xo
Yes, His arms ARE open wide. I love that about Him. Can’t ever get over it. Let’s keep walking into the future. Together, sister!
I come from a line of totally stubborn women too Betsy, you are not alone. 🙂 So thankful God allowed you to share a part of your struggle and your heart with us today!
You too, Nicki? That’s funny. That’s for reading today.
Betsy, the timing for this is impeccable. A conversation with my child this morning ended with a case of the grumps. Repentance is a golden word right now.
Oh, I think I know how you feel, friend! Hang in there! Praying God’s grace over you now.
Your words are humble, encouraging, and inspiring. So glad you share your gift with so many! God’s blessings to you!
Oh gosh, thanks, Teresa. I don’t know about humble and inspiring, but your words are encouraging to me. Blessings to you too.
I needed this today, Betsy. Why is it when we’re in the glums, we can’t remember the things we need to do to get ourselves out of a mood? Thanks for reminding me what I should have already been doing! Blessings!
~Maryleigh
Blessings to you too, Maryleigh. Praying for you now, that God will pour out his grace and joy on you.
Whatever we dwell upon, we will become. Sometimes depression comes from our own acquiesence to the devil’s lies, and sometimes it has chemical undertones. Since it’s a multidimensional problem, we have to use a multidimensional approach. Confession and repentence place a huge part in feeling good (that’s why they say that ‘confession is good for the soul’ 😉 ). Thank you for the reminder that those two things are good for a case of the grumpies, too!
Yes, I’d forgotten that saying: “Confession is good for the soul.” So true. About depression, have you read “Hope Prevails” by Michelle Bengston? I read it last summer, and it addresses the lies of the enemy. (She’s a neuropychiatrist.) It really encouraged me a lot.
So true- “repentance is a door to joy and growth” even though it doesn’t always look like it from the outside. Great reflections here.
Right? It doesn’t always look like it.
Repentance and gratitude truly do go hand in hand, don’t they, Betsy. I love how you’ve linked these two attitudes of the heart together today.
Yes, it’s true, isn’t it, Linda?
Betsy,
Yes, gratitude and repentance and joy 🙂 Thanks for sharing from your heart. Prayed for you and your family this week. And yes, depression has many causes.
So many blessings on the other side of repentance. Beautiful, encouraging words, as always, Betsy! XO
Thanks so much, Liz. XO back atcha!
Repentance is a doorway to more of God. So often I want to bypass this crucial step and stay focused on my complaints, rights, etc. I’m learning to lay it down. Repent quickly is a good thought to remember. Blessings Betsy! I’ll share this all around and put on my FB page:)
Thank you, Ginger. Yes, it is a doorway to more of God, isn’t it? You’re right! We want to bypass it, but it’s crucial!
So needed for many people and I love your perspective here, Betsy. God heals in many ways…Blessings to you my friend!
Yes, He is a healing, miracle-working Father. <3
This is beautiful, Betsy. I agree with you! Repentance brings us into a more joy-filled attitude, one step at a time. Sometimes I have a problem with guilt when I ask God to forgive me for my wrong attitude. After I repent about something, that ugly guilt creeps in telling me I’m weak – telling me I should be stronger. But I’m learning to rely more on the strength of the Holy Spirit, not my own. And above all, NOT to listen to that voice wanting me to doubt. Have a great day, friend!
Isn’t that the truth? Me too. I read once about how guilt/condemnation are for unbelievers, but Satan uses them on us too. Conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. God convicts us of our sin so we will come to Him and have restored fellowship. Beautiful, no? I too struggle with feelings of guilt sometimes. You have a good day too.
I have struggled off and on with depression for years. There are a lot of things beyond my control, but I am learning that one thing I do have power over is my response. Sometimes, repenting of my rotten attitude is exactly what I need most. Sometimes, I just need to weakly lean into Jesus’. Hope in Him is my anchor.
That is beautiful, Elizabeth. he is our anchor. He is our hope. Praying for you now. I so appreciate you.
What encouragement in this. So glad I read this morning with my coffee. Thanks, friend. Prayers & Blessings to you!!
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Early this week my small group of married couples was talking about the difference between saying sorry and truly repenting. We talked about how only repentance opens the door to a deeper love and intimacy with our spouse. Reading your post made me think about how the reason this is true is because that is how it works with God as well. Thank you for sharing your story!
Wow, that is so interesting, Kira! You are right. It does open the door to deeper love and intimacy. Thanks for your insightful comment.
‘There’s something life-giving about getting on the same page with God and agreeing with Him that we’re sinners. It frees us to enter into His presence more deeply; we receive mercy and grace.’ I absolutely love that! Such truth – beautifully stated. Thanks for an inspiring post, Betsy!
Thanks for reading my words, Carlie.
Yes – repentance is so key to our joy. Sometimes we can enjoy our “sin” or “licking our wounds” too much. we need to keep short accounts and repent and turn from our sin. Thanks for this.
Yes, to short accounts, Amy! And I know what you mean about how we enjoy staying wounded. It sounds so crazy on paper, doesn’t it? Yet it’s our nature! Oh for grace to let go and turn to God and let Him have His way instead!