Repentance

The term “repentance” might have been emotionally associated with a whole lot of negative baggage. When some use it or hear it, it may be employed in a spirit of accusation, or demoralizing another. It could take up a type of tribalism where we are being asked to change to enter into a conformity of heart and mind, but not as a result of spiritual unity, but rather borne of resentments and loneliness.

In reality, repentance is good news. It is not the type of self-punishing that comes from being bullied by judgmental groups of people whose wrath and resentment are directed at you to conform to the truth. Rather, repentance means something singular and meaningful, pure and loving. It means that God extends to us the possibility of changing our heart to be more like His.

This involves tears, and regret, but it also pushes through these feelings into something better and life-giving. It moves us from a hardened state into a liberated state where we are now free to do God’s will, and to thereby embrace our true identity as His beloved Children.

The fact is, the real hopelessness a soul can experience when in sin is not merely that such sin cannot be forgiven (though that is a real type of despair and hopelessness), but also that in such sin we cannot ever be liberated.

But by the mere fact that God calls us to repent, we learn, from God’s vantage point, it is quite possible. He has confidence in us in tandem with Grace, and things can be better. By calling us to repent, it should elicit in our soul a sense of encouragement from God and mercy, that He is so generous to not leave us in the sorrowful state of sin, but like a good coach tells us to get up off the ground, and continue the race (and sin no more).

___

Photo: Steve Halama, Unsplash / PD-US