We spend time in green pastures. We rest beside still waters.
We walk the path He leads us on, but still there are times when all the right things we do still don't protect us from making mistakes or falling into sin. We are made of falllible flesh and God's word warns us that we are still vulnerable to failure.
Now is the time we need to seek restoration. We need to run
not walk into the Lord's presence and seek forgiveness. we need to honestly confess and repent. The Lord knows us. He formed us in our mother's womb. He knows when we rise up and when we lie down. He knows our thoughts and our ways. He is faithful and just to forgive us.
Isaiah 41-43 and more tells us of his commitment to us. His
love for us is boundless. He desires to restore us to a close and intimate relationship with Him. There are many times that restoration is painful. But the resulting maturity and deeper faith make the trials and struggles well worth the pain. We can stand as a lighthouse of comfort for those who
are struggling through the same storms we have endured.
The Lord tells us in Psalms and Proverbs to not despise the
chastening He brings upon us. A father who does not love his children doesn't care what happens to them. A Father such as we have, loves us enough to bring us to restoration. When we return to Him, He runs to us. He rejoices over us with singing. He restores our soul.
We won't always do it right, but the wrongs we do can be the best training ground for becoming a wiser and more effective warrior in the battle that we are waging against the enemy. James tells us to count it all joy when,we fall into trials, etc. I am still working on counting it all joy but I am less inclined to condemn myself when I know Who can do the restoration.