What do you do after you’ve given in to temptation?

Run to God?

Or keep your distance?

When you’re at your worst, do you struggle to believe that your heavenly Father loves you? Especially when you’ve given in to that temptation for the hundredth time?

It’s demoralizing when you reject God’s grace once again – the grace that could have kept you from yelling at your kids, acting arrogantly to your co-workers, cheating on your schoolwork, lying to your girl or boyfriend, or visiting that porn site.

When we sin, it’s easy to believe it’s better to distance ourselves from God rather than drawing near to Him. We find it hard to believe Jesus understands what it’s like to be tempted. And even harder to believe that our Lord wants us to draw near to Him, even when – especially when – we’ve failed Him.

Hebrews 4:15-16 (ESV) says:

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus knows “exactly how it feels to be human,” as the Amplified Version says – yet He doesn’t condone or wink at sin. God hates what sin steals from us. But rather than relishing the opportunity to berate and guilt us, Jesus invites us to come to Him for forgiveness, mercy and grace.

Isn’t this amazing?

Even when we’re at our worst, Jesus wants to (even longs to) spend time with us.

We have a choice: Believe the truth of who God is, accept His love, and receive His offer of mercy. Or continue to believe the lie that we have no place at His throne when we’ve acted unworthily.

We know it would be best to yield to God’s grace and not give in to temptation over and over again. But when we fail, rather than hiding from God, let’s go to Him.

And when we go, let’s stay in His presence long enough to receive all we need, including the strength and resolve to do better next time.

What about you?

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