Examine me, O God and know my mind; test me and discover my thoughts! Psalm 139:23

As I sit in my warm, comfy home and look out the long, narrow window in front of me, I see blue sky and sunlight. It appears to be a beautiful day in the Ozarks. But a step out the door would quickly dispel that notion. Cold temperatures and brisk winds would remind me that winter is on its way. It’s easy to be drawn into an illusion of perceived perfection.

I recall the parable of a son who goes to his father to claim his inheritance while his father is still living. An older brother is offended by such a brash and selfish demand, but the younger son wants to explore the world, sow his wild oats, and enjoy the pleasures of life while he’s still young and can relish every moment.

We know that the grass was not so green on the other side of that fence. After the son had spent all his inheritance on earthly pleasures and found himself living in conditions worse than the pigs he fed, he realized it was time to go back home, even if it meant living out his life in the role of a servant.

I will get up and go to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against God and against you….Luke 15:18

The illusion of something better has tempted each of us to embark on adventures that would not line up with God’s plan for our lives. We’ve done things He didn’t like to see, said words He didn’t want to hear, bent His rules so badly it would seem a miracle that He could look past our recklessness and see what’s good in us.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve often asked myself how God could love me after all the mistakes I have made. Now, understand, I never received a big inheritance, and I never had opportunities to party as hard as this errant son did. (I did take care of pigs when I lived on a farm, but that’s another story.) I have, however, acted out in ways that I know were hurtful to myself and others. Words have escaped my mouth that certainly wouldn’t please my Father, and could certainly be hurtful to the people around me, even, and perhaps especially, those I love the most.

We make mistakes! We all do it! Sometimes in anger and sometimes intentionally. We’re human, and we do things we don’t really want to do. Is it any wonder that we might doubt God’s love for us if we can’t even love ourselves? But, here’s the thing, He looks past our mistakes and sees the good in us. There’s nothing we can tell Him that He doesn’t already know or hasn’t already seen a million times.

We can come to our senses. We can choose to go [back] to our Father. Max Lucado, God’s Story, Your Story

You know that the Prodigal Son went back thinking he would live out his life as a field hand, but he was welcomed with open arms by the father who loved him dearly. We have a heavenly Father who does the same for us. If you doubt that, just look up a few characters in the Bible like David and Rahab, Gideon and Paul. They committed grave sins and harbored a very shaky faith at times. But they all came back to where they needed to be, and so can we. So, join me, and let’s take all those heavy burdens we’re carrying around and lay them at His feet. Say the simple words “I’m sorry,” and mean them. Then let’s take a deep dive into our Bibles, strengthen our prayer relationships, and never again wonder why or if He loves us. He does….just believe it!

Create a pure heart in me, O God; and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Psalm 51:10

(All Biblical references from Good News Translation)