God's Not Mad At You.

​"After all I've done, and all the ways I've screwed up my life, there is no way God could love me or ever forgive me."
​This is something that many addicted people, hurting people, struggling and confused people will say, but it is a lie.  God's not mad at you.

​"God's not mad at you because He knows what's wrong with you."​ This is one of the most striking statements made by Tracy Strawberry in her book, "Clean, Sober & Saved: ​The Power & Process of Change."​  You may ​​feel ​like you'll never be quite good enough for God, but the basis of actual reality is not based on your feelings, but on the truth of Who God is, what God knows about you, and what He's already done to help you.

#1: God sees it all.
​There is nothing hidden from God.  You have no secrets from Him, so there's nothing He doesn't already know about you.  ​This is a good thing.  ​You don't have to fear God, nor do you have to hide from Him.  Many of us hide from God for fear that He'll find out what we've done.​  We don't have to hide because there is nothing to hide.

#2: God knows what's really going on.
​Whatever is your "deal" God already knows what's causing it.  Whenever we struggle with issues in our life like rage, hatred, substance abuse, manipulative behavior, using people, sexual impropriety, greed and more, God doesn't just look at the surface issue, He knows the deep roots beneath the weeds on the surface.  Again, even if we don't entirely understand this, the good news is that He does.

​#3: God knows how to fix it, and already made a way.
​Getting beyond our struggles is never impossible with God.  He knows that the sinful nature within you (not just​ you, but every human being... ​even the ones you think have it all together) ​is the root beneath the surface feeding the weeds above ground.  In His great love, God gave us His Son, Jesus, to take care of that on your behalf.  Jesus breaks its power, cancels the death penalty, forgives the offenses, offers mercy, restores your soul, and places you on a new path to healing and freedom.
​

• ​Yes, you make mistakes and commit sin.  Yes, you've made a mess of things.  But God's not mad at you.
• Yes, people have been hurt by you and you will need to make amends with them one day.  But God's not mad at you.
• ​Yes, you've made some really lousy choices of my own free will that I, and I alone will be accountable for.  ​But God's not mad at you.
• ​No, you can't surprise God or cause Him to gasp by your life story and its issues.  He's not mad at you.
  

​Yes, if you turn to Jesus, He will save you and set your life on a path to true freedom. 

Put down the old and take up the new.
​Put down the drugs and take up healing.
Put down the lies and take up the truth.
​Put away the past and begin a new future.
Because God loves you and wants to heal you.

AMEN.
​If you want to talk about your struggles with someone who can offer spiritual, Christ-centered guidance, call 716-222-0299.  ​(Your confidential call will be returned no later than within 24 hours.)

---