Lay down your burdens, lay down your shame. All who are broken, lift up your face. Oh wanderer come home, you're not too far. So lay down your hurt, lay down your heart, come as you are.
Today, I sang this song as I walked down the aisle to receive my King, and never before have the words impacted me so much. Christ's love for us is such an unfathomable and wonderfully mysterious thing, and I am always awed by his infinite mercy. Lately I have been letting satan convince me that I'm completely unworthy of the love of Christ, but that is just not true. Christ is always ready to pour his love and mercy upon me. Every day he's begging me to "come home... come home...", and today I came home. I told my Jesus that I was ready to let go of my sins and restraints, and through Reconciliation he freed me of my bounds and ran to me at full speed. Like the father of the prodigal son, He rejoiced and embraced me, and I have never felt so loved. So complete.
I say this because no matter how burdened, ashamed, broken, lost, or hurt we feel, God loves us. He wants us at our best and our worst. No matter where we stand God is waiting for us to come home. Although, we must keep in mind that it's so much more than an "I guess I'm sorry and I'll try to do better." When we sin, we hurt Jesus. We nail Him to that cross and He suffers and dies for us. But He does this because He loves us. We must surrender ourselves to Him and show Him that we desire His love.
We were made for so much more than the mediocrity of our society. We were made to grow and thrive in Christ's love. He gives us not only a second and third chance, but infinite chances. Never let your sins get the best of you. Don't you dare give up. Though you are flawed, just like we all are as human beings, you are made perfect through Christ. Come home with whatever burdens you carry and struggles in your heart. Offer them up to the Lord and come just as you are.
