Stop Groveling in Your Self (SIN) Pity

(A good friend of mine has written this. I have a changed or added a few things here and there so as to adapt it for the Church. FFD)

In recent days I have dealt with several men who had tragic falls into sin and who I have been trying to help with their restoration. These men have something in common. They are suffering terribly. In fact they are suffering so badly that they are almost in agony. Nothing I say to them seems to help. No matter what I say to encourage them they seem to come back with the same despair. During the night recently I received a text message from one of these men been crying out in agony. I went into the living room and began to think and pray for this man. The Holy Spirit placed upon my heart an answer. There are some of you who are reading this that are living in agony that is destroying you and I want to tell you what I think might be the cause. Well, it is one or a combination of three things.  

1. You have a repentance problem.

Let me make something very clear; there are many people who fall and are sad about the consequences but not so much the sin. In fact their grief is not over their sin at all. Their grief is over what their sin has cost them. They have not repented of their sin. They are recoiling from the pain their sin has caused them. They are living in self-pity and are feeling sorry for themselves because of the suffering. If you have repented of your sin and confessed it, God has forgiven you and his peace should be permeating your heart. So, why are you living in such agony? Maybe it's because you really haven't repented of you sin. You are sorry for your consequences but you are really not sorry nor have you repented for what you've done. Stop whining and repent.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. (I John 1:9)

2. You have a forsaking problem.

Consider this carefully. If you have committed sexual sins, but you are still looking at porn, then you cannot have peace. The reality is you haven't forsaken your sin until you have forsaken that which led to that public sin. It is time for you to forsake the private parts too. It is not enough to just forsake the act. You forsake those things and thoughts which led to the act. Stop whining about your life and start winning the battle against sin. I am completely convinced that some of these who are whining about how bad it is and who are living in misery are still playing with the very sins that led to their fall. Forsake means forsake. It means STOP entertaining the sin on the internet.

He that hideth his sins, shall not prosper: but he that shall confess, and forsake them, shall obtain mercy.(Proverbs 28:13)

3. You have an approval problem.

Let me give you some news. The people who are mistreating you because of your sins are wrong but you committed your sins. Stop blaming them. Let God deal with the elder brothers and you do what you are supposed to do. You are sitting around waiting for somebody to tell you that you're accepted. I have good news and I have bad news for you. The good news is that God has accepted you if you have repented and forsaken the sins. The bad news is that you are going to be rejected by some people. You will never be fully accepted by men. There are always enemies and critics. There are always slanderers and detractors. You must learn to live with it. Stop feeling like you are being persecuted because you're not. You are dealing in consequences. They are wrong for what they're doing, but it is what YOU did that empowers those elder brothers. Stop whining about it.

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)

I believe that this truth is needed in some of your lives right now. I know where you are. I have been there. I have whined while not repenting. I have moaned and groaned while not forsaking. I have thrown my pity parties because of people not accepting me. I know that it leaves you feeling low and discouraged. Stop it. Do what you're supposed to do and stop living in your self-pity. God has giving you the victory, now live in it.

By taking care of these 3 areas, you have the opportunity to have peace in your life after a fall from Gods grace, if you'll just take it.

The Lord will give strength to his people: the Lord will bless his people with peace. (Psalms 28:10b)

These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)