While perusing an antique store full of treasures and things that needed restoring, the Lord spoke to me about all our serious problems, attitudes, mistakes, errors, regrets, negative behaviors, you name it. Over these things, from our perspective, we tend to fall into self condemnation, self hatred, self accusation and great disappointment in ourselves, especially if our behaviors are repetitive and habitual. The Lord said that all our stuff is actually a treasure to Him in that He knows the end to these things are victory and joy. Our stuff is His joy. He doesn’t rejoice that we have problems. He rejoices because He knows our beautiful future and that we will not remain in our troubles because they have an expiration date.
Our challenges are fodder for great transformations in the Lord’s hands and we belong to Him, kit and kaboodle. He knew what He was getting when He picked us up into His arms. He knows how to turn anything into something very good. In the process, all we have to do is continually ask Him to come in and embrace us and let go of self condemnation because He does not condemn us. He rejoices over us knowing that we will clean up real good. Self applied love starts with, “Love is patient.” We must chose His loving patience with us.
While we are patient with ourselves in our process, continue to be productive in areas where you are doing well. Don’t give up because you are challenged in other areas of your life. Enter into joy by thanking Him that it will all turn out into something very good and self condemnation must flee. Give it time, just like He does and He has plenty of it in never ending, compassionate quantities for everyone.
Psalm 103:8-14
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
For He Himself knows our frame;
He is mindful that we are but dust.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.