When we’ve messed up or walked away from God, it can be easy to think that He’s written us off, that He no longer wants to use us to do His work, and that He’ll take away our gifts because we don’t deserve them. But the Bible tells us that ‘God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn’. However many mistakes we’ve made, God still calls us and uses us. His purposes for us were set in place before we even knew about them. In Ephesians 2, we’re told that ‘we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago’ (v.10 NLT). These purposes don’t get taken away from us just because we’ve walked down the wrong path. It can be so tempting to give in to the feelings of guilt and shame we have. We can think that we’ll never be good enough to be used by God, and that we’ve made far too many mistakes for God to invite us to be part of His kingdom-work. But God doesn’t give up on us, so we shouldn’t give up on ourselves. God knows we’re going to make mistakes; that’s why He sent His Son Jesus to die for us so that we could be freed from a life of never being good enough. Ever read the story of the Prodigal Son? The son took his inheritance early and headed off for a life without his father. He did things he shouldn’t have done, but his father welcomed him back enthusiastically. God does that for us too. Wherever we’ve been and whatever we’ve done, He welcomes us back and invites us to be part of His work again. 

What Now?

Spend some time reading the story of the Prodigal Son (you can find it in Luke 15). Thank God for always welcoming you back and for still wanting to include you in His plans.