I spoke with a friend recently about the things that God has been up to in each others lives, and as they shared the story of their life and how God took their past and turned it completely around, I was just deeply encouraged. He recounted the ways sin and its desires had taken him far from the path of righteousness and how he had pretty much been bound to the same temptations over and over again, but by God’s Grace—And God’s Grace ALONE— He had been set free.

He spoke to me about how those desires and temptations he once had aren’t even appealing to him and more, and that the new desires in Him are prayer, spending time with God in His Word, and wanting to help others that have been trapped in the same situation he was once in.

He talked about how he sometimes wishes he could have made better decisions but continues to keep His focus on what God is doing now to take what the enemy had planned for evil to use for good. He said also that he is constantly filled with a great Joy everywhere he goes. His testimony was every bit encouraging to me. Even though my life story is different than his, God’s Grace that took hold of his life, is the same Grace that took hold of my life. As it says in Ephesians 2:1-5:

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His Great Love for us, God, Who is rich in Mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by Grace you have been saved.

Here are a few things really stood out, as my friend shared his life story with me.

God’s Grace is ENOUGH!

No matter how far you may think you are away from God, HIS GRACE is more than enough for you—Not just enough to forgive you of all of your sins and mistakes, but enough to completely replace your desire for sin and its temptations. God’s Grace is enough to give you a new start, even when you feel like you do not deserve one.

Those Who Trust in God are given Great Joy!

For the Joy of the Lord is your Strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) Those who abide in Christ are given an unspeakable Joy. It’s really hard to explain to someone who has never experienced it, but it’s almost like a Peace in the middle of a storm– A Hope in the middle of a hopeless situation. Those who are in Christ— rescued by His Grace— are given a strength that is what makes Christ Following Christian’s so strangely attractive to the world. Even in the worst of worst circumstances, they have this endurance and strength called Joy. It’s one of the most attractive things in the world, and it amazes me how freely God will give this Joy out to those who— no matter what their lives may have looked like— choose to seek and follow Him.

The enemy still tries to use what God from your past to enslave you into guilt.

The enemy is constantly looking for way to kill, steal, and destroy all that he can. (John 10:10) It’s what his whole purpose is. So when the enemy thinks he has you in his power, and then by God’s Grace, all sins chains are shattered, the enemy does everything in his power to re-enslave you with his chains of guilt and shame. Guilt and shame are not of God. Godly sorrow—Yes! But guilt and shame only cause you to doubt the amazing Grace God has already done in Your Life. For those who put their Trust in Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, they are without a doubt, completely covered by His amazing Grace! Every sin—past, present, and future— have been paid for in full on the Cross! And we are no longer bound by the bond of shame and guilt. The enemy does not give up though in wanting you to believe that you have not been identified as God’s Child. If he can be successful at that, then he can cause you to fall back into your old sinful habits. It is important to renew your mind daily (Romans 12:2), and like my friend, keep your focus on what God is doing! Your past can now be used in amazing ways you would have never expected!  What the enemy intended for evil, God will use for Good (Genesis 5-:20).

I believe the unspeakable Joy, and incredible Hope that a Christ Follower has, comes from what we know to be true about this world and the Great Treasure we have in Christ. 1 John 2:17 says this:

The world and it’s desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:17)

We already have eternity within our hearts (Ecclesiastes 3:11), that is why the temporary (sin) cannot satisfy us. It’s why many people constantly look for more and continue in their sins over and over again. It’s ONLY when we find Christ that the void in our hearts are filled, and sin is no longer appealing. So to anyone reading this that is still looking for more— Look to Christ, HE is EVERYTHING You are searching for! He will satisfy all of you.

 For God so Loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the Name of God’s One and Only Son. – John 3:16-18