"What a disappointment I must be to God. I blew it again."
Have you heard yourself talk like this? Even if you never voiced it to another living soul, do you hear it in your head? What if we take a step back and let self-compassion speak? There are two opposing powers working for us and against us everyday. To be human means that we are called to act when we are enticed. We are enticed to do good and to do evil. Neither power can take our agency but we are enticed.
James 1:14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
The powers that entice us to do good are strong and they reside in Jesus Christ and are administered by the Holy Ghost. The powers that would lead us away from Christ reside in Satan and they are equally strong and oppressive.
2 Nephi 2:16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.
When we are beguiled by evil, to waste time, ignore one another's needs, or by inertia, let us say to ourselves. I can do better. I will do better. Not by pulling up our bootstraps and shaming ourselves into right action, but, by turning more faithfully to that power that entices to do good. Let us calm ourselves by looking for the messages of light. Let us listen more intently to the sound of the Good Shepard calling us to repent, and return.
April is a month to explore self-compassion. You can read more about my year of Mindfulness here.
April is a month to explore self-compassion. You can read more about my year of Mindfulness here.
It is easy to feel we have to do better and to try to do that by our own effort but by ourselves we'll never succeed. I'm grateful that we can turn to God and know his forgiveness and that we can change as we draw close to him, and that he can give us the strength to do the right thing.
ReplyDeleteRobert Rohr
Delete"God does not love us if we change, God loves us so that we can change. Only love effects true inner transformation, not duress, guilt, shunning, or social pressure. Love is not love unless it is free. Grace is not grace unless it is totally free."