“Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.” Galatians 6:7-9 CSB
When I was younger, struggling through the loss of my Dad, I had this motto in my life: The only person I’m hurting is myself. When I would go out partying and wake up the next morning with a hang-over or spend money I didn’t have, I would tell myself that line. I liked the pain. I was hurting so much inside, the pain made me feel alive. I thought life was about pain. But then I learned a truth that changed my life. I wasn’t just hurting myself, I was hurting others. I was hurting God, I was hurting my Mom and my family, I was hurting all the people that loved me. I just didn’t know it. I was sowing in the flesh, I was reaping in the flesh. I was reaping destruction.
What was the wake-up call? I had a vision of myself in a car accident, late at night, by the side of the road. I thought of my Mom having to find me like that. It haunted me. For the first time, I realized what I was doing to her. The woman who loved me more than anyone else in the world, who would do anything to protect me,and help me, I was hurting her. Then I began to realize, she wasn’t the only one I was hurting. I began to realize I was hurting others as well. I realized there were a lot of people praying for me, rooting for me, trying to help me find my way. That is when the journey back to God started. That is when I started to let Him heal my broken heart. That is when the light started to come back into my life.
That ten year period from 16-26 years old was a very dark period for me. There are times, even today, when I think back on it and pray to God I never turn my back on Him again. I pray He always reminds me that He takes our pain and makes something beautiful out of it. He uses all things to the good for those who trust in Him and believe (Romans 8:28). I’ve gone through more painful things since I lost my Dad, but in all of them God’s been with me. And He still is. I’ve learned, God can’t be mocked, He can’t be deceived. We really do reap what we sow, and because of that, I want to make sure, I’m always sowing in Him.
Let’s do that today with this prayer:
Lord, we’re sorry for the times we’ve tried to deceive You, mock You even. Help us not sow in the flesh, help us sow in the Spirit. Help us always sow in You, in Your eternal life. Let us not sow in destruction. We give our pain to You, knowing You will make beauty from ashes. (Galatians 6:7-9). In Jesus name we pray. Amen
