We are More

I am 45(!) years old now and sometimes I still struggle with forgiving myself for things done and choices made when I was a much younger, weaker...sadder girl.  Now I can think of a couple of things I did today that required some confession and Divine mercy, but interestingly, and I think probably tragically, my biggest struggles with guilt and shame come from things long forgiven by my Father and mostly forgotten by everyone else.  Satan knows just how to knock the wind right out of me.  

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

It's hard to always recognize such feelings as a lack of faith and understanding of what Christ did for me.  He did not die for me so that I would live stuck in my own guilt!  Getting out of my own way and allowing Christ to use me as He sees fit is one of the biggest struggles I face in my Christian walk. 

This is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to.
 This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

Anyway, as I was driving this afternoon a song came on the radio that I hadn't heard before.  The words resonated with me and I thought I would share them with you.  I know I'm not alone.  We all have failed.  We all have things in our pasts that make us sad to remember...And quite probably some of us are right now in the middle of a big mess and feel hopeless and useless.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.*

I can promise you, this, though - 

None of us who are in Christ are hopeless.  He IS our Hope :) and He desires to use us, broken & messy, to do His work - for His glory. 

Isn't He wonderful?  I just love Him so much!

Happy Thursday!

Renee

(*You are More, Tenth Avenue North)