“Oh, that I knew where I might find him.” Job 23:3a (ESV)
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29 (NIV)
“If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand?” Psalm 130:3 (NIV)
As a young girl, my walk with the Lord was only the beginning of a journey of discovery and growth that would last a lifetime. Saved at 12 years of age, I was like a babe in Christ, with much to learn and understand. In my spiritual immaturity, I struggled to comprehend the depth of God’s love for His children. There were times when I felt my prayers went unheard or that God was too busy to listen to them. Despite my deep love for Jesus, I often saw Him as a distant figure, waiting to punish me for my mistakes.
The doctrine of the church I attended as a child and teenager held to the belief that a person would lose their salvation if they sinned. Even as a young girl, I sure didn’t know how to be perfect! I wanted to feel worthy of God’s love, but it seemed like a losing proposition. Consequently, during the early years after asking Jesus into my heart to be my Lord and Savior, I often found myself in a cycle of guilt and repentance. I would pray countless times to be “re-saved,” not fully understanding the concept of God’s forgiveness and grace. I was bogged down with guilt from my mistakes and found it impossible to live a sin-free life. Mine was a battle I believed was not winnable and a very disheartening way to try and walk with the Lord. It took a long time of living with this “defeatist” type of spiritual struggle before I realized that I had it all wrong and God’s Word had it all right. I learned that I could never attain perfection while here on earth, and that Jesus had died on that old rugged cross only ONCE for my sins and the sins of the world—past, present, and future. He didn’t need to die over and over again so I could be saved over and over again. Once was enough to fulfill God’s plan of redemption for mankind. We can never repay the debt we owe, but in God’s love He sent Jesus to pay a substitutionary debt on our behalf. What a glorious exchange it was!
Make no mistake; we are indeed called to repent of our sins. I John 1:9 gives us the following promise: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (NIV) Unconfessed sin has no place in the life of a believer because it will hinder our relationship with God and others. Yet, we are all human, and no one on earth has ever been perfect except our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why we must take our walk of faith step by step and day by day. And we must begin our day anew every morning, asking the Lord to “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (ESV) God’s mercies are new every morning, meaning that His forgiveness and love are always available to us. This daily renewal of God’s mercy is a testament to His unfailing love and desire for us to have a close and continuous relationship with Him.
I am eternally grateful that my faith perspective has dramatically changed as I’ve grown in my walk with the Lord over the years. My spiritual growth has been nurtured by the sound biblical teaching of pastors who have rightly divided the Word of God. My daily time in God’s Word involves reading and studying scripture, meditating on its meaning, and applying its principles to my life. Regular conversation with my Heavenly Father reassures me that He hears my prayers and answers them according to His timing, not mine, and for my good and His glory. The journey of my deepening relationship with God has been about learning to trust Him, even when His ways are beyond my comprehension. I know I have far to go, but I am sure of this: God is faithful in leading His children in their quest to know Him. He will never, even for a moment, abandon us or give up on building a solid and lasting relationship with us. He is as close as the mention of His name, always ready and willing to respond to our every prayer.
Realizing that Jesus is not a distant figure but a constant companion who walks with me every step of the way was a profound revelation that I now carry on my journey of walking with Him. Understanding that no one can snatch me out of His hand continues to bring a deep sense of comfort and reassurance as I aspire to become more like Him in all areas of my life.
Today, I pray that all who read this post are being held securely in the loving hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If they are, then the same sense of security and peace that I have found in Him no doubt envelops their soul.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You are mighty to save, and I thank You for saving this little country girl many years ago. Thank You for Your patience with me as I continue to grow and learn more of Your Word and Your ways. I desire to live in such a way that is pleasing to You. Please lead me to share Jesus with the lost wherever You take me on this journey of life. Help me reach out to others who are struggling in their relationship with You. May they be encouraged to know that nothing is lacking in Your love for them, and may they faithfully walk the path that You have set before them. I pray all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
