If Repentance brings Joy, then Why do we try to Avoid it?
The beginning of a mission is usually difficult because of all the changes that a person faces. It was hard for me when we first came, and I see that it is hard on the new missionaries we greet every six weeks.
Did you know that the atonement of Jesus Christ isn’t just about redemption? It is also about growing and changing in ways we didn’t know we could.
Larry Lawrence said:
The journey of discipleship is not an easy one. It has been called a “course of steady improvement.” As we travel along the straight and narrow path, the Spirit continually challenges us to be better and to climb higher. ….However, we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way. We have to ask some difficult questions, like “What do I need to change?” “How can I improve?” “What weakness needs strengthening?”
Kristin Yee said:
The closer we come to Christ and become more like Him, the more we see through the Spirit that we need to change.
Often, in order to make real change, we need to repent. Repentance is the hallmark of Christ’s atonement. It is the best gift that Christ could have given to mankind. It is the infinite number of chances for us to become more like Him and as we progress, we will eventually be given eternal life and all that he has!
If Repentance is so great, why do we try to avoid it? I think it is because we confuse repentance with sin. Sin is bad, but repentance is liberating! Repentance gives us freedom from sin and helps us to change in good ways! As we make these changes, our lives become better and happier.
I discovered this a few months ago when I was studying Charity. As I pondered what ‘charity suffereth long' means, the Spirit whispered to me, that for me personally, it means that I should not blame others for my problems. At first, I was startled because I didn’t think that I did this, but when I self-reflected more, I knew otherwise. I decided then to focus on making this change. It was hard and I prayed daily to my Heavenly Father for forgiveness and for help in overcoming my bad habit. As I made changes over time, I could see how my personal relationships were improving. I also noticed that the world didn’t seem nearly so combative to me any longer. I felt greater peace, and I became much less defensive with others because I was focused only on improving myself rather than blaming others.
President Nelson said:
Repentance is a good thing and nothing to be ashamed of and it only means that you want to change. Satan encourages us to hide our sins so that we don’t repent. If we hide our sins, we are hiding from God and that makes no sense!
I believe that this concept of hiding from God is a foundational and an effective strategy for Satan’s plan. After Adam and Eve partook of the fruit in the garden of Eden, Satan told them to make aprons of leaves to cover their nakedness or in other words their ‘sins’ and to hide from God. Feeling sorrow or remorse is part of the repentance process because it gives us the desire to change. However, feeling condemned and without worth is Satan's tactic to get us to hide our sins and ourselves from God. Often, we believe his lies that the Lord is fed up with us and won’t forgive us. This is not true! The Lord wants to help us change. In Mosiah 26:30 it says: “Yea, and as often as my people repent, I forgive them their trespasses against me.”
Our Savior readily awaits our repentance and our acceptance of his atoning gift. Don’t be deceived into thinking otherwise. I have learned that we should eagerly repent and enjoy the blessings and healing that it brings to our lives. Why would we procrastinate on such a beautiful opportunity?
Related Scriptures:
D&C 18:11-13
11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth!
Alma 36:19-21
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.
