She hurls the cruelest insults at me-worthless, unloved, mistake. I loathe her. A swarm of livid hornets would be kinder than her. I’d rather eat worms than see her again. She had better hope that I never run into her while I have a baseball bat or a steaming cup of coffee in my possession.

I know, I know- pray for your enemies. I do, nearly every day. It’s on my bad days when I don’t pray for her that she returns with the full force of her fury and hatred. She’s great at what she does…knows exactly which buttons to push. Knows how to get my attention and hold it with shouts as loud and jarring as a jackhammer. She knows almost everything about me because she is me.

Slowly, her presence has become much less frequent. It has been months since I have seen her. Although she still returns occasionally. The easiest way to trigger her return is by yelling at me. It’s the method that sends me the deepest into her pit. And the only rope that is long enough to permanently pull me out is God’s promises. But I don’t want to get up to touch His rope. I’m comfortable where I’m sitting, and it’s easier to ignore the rope. I want to stay in the pit. I know I shouldn’t, but that’s where I’m at.

While I’m down there, I see many, many people with me. Dozens of my friends and acquaintances and even family members. People who are reading this. We got here the same way- ignoring what God has told us over and over again, listening to the wrong voices.

We believe we are broken beyond repair. God can heal us on unbelieveable levels. We see ourselves as damaged goods. God sees something good in the making. We see the scars from when we fell. God sees the stories that we will tell. He’s exclaiming priceless while we are convinced our worth couldn’t be less. Our focus is on our mistakes, but His is on the cross and the price He paid to adopt us. We’re never too far gone. We are one step from turning around and allowing Him to guide us in a different direction. (This paragraph is paraphrased from Matthew West’s song Mended. It’s amazing. Check it out.)

There too many paralyzed people who fall prostrate to their problems instead of allowing the power of God’s promises to permeate their lives….Too many serfs of concern and uncertainty who are comfortable in the pit. They hope that the promises are true and that they will eventually lead to change; hope that a dog will put a leash on itself and open the door so that the two of you can go for a walk. Their worries and doubts and toxic thoughts continue to have the majority of their focus.

When your mistakes and weaknesses dominate your focus, you send an invitation to depression, worry and doubt. Pride and arrogance are beckoned when you focus on your accomplishments. When God holds your gaze, worship, peace and confidence gravitate toward you. Do you want to be paralyzed with fear or peace?