NEVER TOO FAR GONE

Have you messed up big time and wondered how you could ever move on? Have you gotten caught up in sinful behavior and wondered when you will stop failing? Have you ever tried to pick up the pieces left of your life and wondered how God could ever use someone like you?

Yep. I have been there.

I made so many mistakes in my younger years that I still cringe with regret today when I think about them. And even all these years later, I still fail and make mistakes that cause me to blush with shame.

But there is hope for sinners like you and me.

I was reading the book of Jonah the other day and this verse leaped off the page at me, “Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him.” -Jonah 1:15-16

And you know what I realized?

God used Jonah’s disobedience.

God had called Jonah to preach to the city of Ninevah and He ran in the complete opposite direction. He boarded a ship to Tarshish which was about as far as you could go back then. While he was on that boat a storm arose and the sailors figured out that Jonah had angered His God by trying to run from Him.  They decided that the only way to save themselves was to throw Him in the sea. And when the storm immediately calmed, they realized that Jonah served the One, True God and they worshiped Him.

And that is why there is hope for sinners like you and me.

See, if God can use Jonah’s disobedience to draw the sailor’s hearts to Him then He can use our own failures, mistakes, and even our disobedience for His glory as well. Nothing will stand in His way. Nothing will throw off His plans.

He can use it all for His honor and glory.

And isn’t that wonderfully freeing to know that you can’t mess things up for God? No matter how badly you have sinned. No matter how many mistakes you make. You can’t ruin God’s plans.

Now, just because He can use my disobedience doesn’t mean that I sin on purpose, or that I don’t attempt to do the right things every day. But it does mean I don’t have to be so hard on myself when I do mess up.

When I realize that I have once again messed up, I can still run back to Him. And like the father of the prodigal son, He will wrap me in His loving arms. He will forgive me. He will help me to get back on the right path.  And He can use all of it for His good and His glory!

That is the most wonderful news of all.

That God can take my mess, my filth, my brokenness, and He can use it to draw lonely hearts to Him. It is never too late. You are never too far gone. Turn and run into the arms of the Savior who LOVES YOU!

Give your mistakes and failures to God, because He is great at taking broken pieces . . . . and making masterpieces. 

    TO CONNECT WITH COLLENE ON HER:

    BLOG CLICK HERE         INSTAGRAM CLICK HERE