Joel 2:12-14 
“Even now,” declares the LORD, 
“return to me with all your heart, 
with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 

Rend your heart 
and not your garments. 
Return to the LORD your God, 
for he is gracious and compassionate, 
slow to anger and abounding in love, 
and he relents from sending calamity. 
Who knows? He may turn and relent 
and leave behind a blessing— 
grain offerings and drink offerings 
for the LORD your God.” (NIV)

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I have a friend who needs to read this text and take it to heart. My friend is one of those who thinks he is far too far gone for God to rescue or deliver. The good news is, no one is too far gone. No one is beyond God’s reach. His grace and compassion and His abounding love are bigger, broader, and better than all of our badness combined. 

Right now, right where you are, you can turn to Him and find forgiveness and restoration. You will find this truth in the first five books of the Bible. You will find it in the prophets. You will find it in the wisdom writings. You will find it in the Gospels. You will find it in the Epistles, and you will find it in Revelation. It’s harder not to find it.

Here’s a truth that is truer than true: God’s grace and mercy are better than you knew. 

How big is your sin? God’s grace is bigger than that. 

How bad is your attitude? God’s mercy covers it. 

How mean are your words? God’s love redirects them.

Remember, these words in the verses above are God’s own words about Himself. He’s never told a lie. He’s never misled anyone. He speaks these words to your heart as surely as He spoke them through the Prophet Joel centuries ago. He says through Joel,

Return to the LORD your God, 
for he is gracious and compassionate, 
slow to anger and abounding in love, 
and he relents from sending calamity.

God says, “Come home.” 

God says, “Stop running from me and run to me.” 

God says, “I have blessings to rebuild your world.” 

I’ve got to say, that’s an offer you don’t dare refuse. 

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I will go to God with all of my brokenness and messy bits so that he can redeem and restore my soul.

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Our Father, thank you for receiving me just as I am. Thank you for restoring and renewing my life. Thank you for giving me hope and a future. I entrust myself completely to you. Amen.