Conviction vs. Condemnation
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.
Philippians 2:13 NLT
Welp, you’ve done it again!” we say to ourselves, with a palm slap to the forehead. We’ve lost our temper with our kids, we’ve fallen back into the same old sins, and we feel like absolute skunk poo-poo because of it. Just like Eeyore from Winnie-the-Pooh, we wallow in our misfortunes, assuming we will never measure up to the person God wants us to be because we are total losers.
Of course we’re not losers—but failure has a funny way of stripping our confidence and replacing it with humiliation and guilt. Don’t you agree?
Yes, we are human. We are imperfect beings, we fall into temptation, and we cave to our earthly impulses. Some use the “I’m human” excuse to pacify mistakes and avoid accountability. But most people do the opposite, allowing the enemy to inflict blunt-force trauma on their minds with condemnation, depression, and self-loathing. However, let’s clear up one thing: there is a huge difference between condemnation and conviction. The enemy condemns, but the Holy Spirit convicts. And friend, conviction is such a good thing! It’s the Holy Spirit’s gentle way of leading us to a change of heart and His way of lovingly refining our character. Conviction means one thing: that we are passionately adored. It’s proof that God is taking the wheel like we’ve asked Him to. He redirects our paths and saves us from self-inflicted wrecks, because that’s what a good Parent does!
God is also full of kindness—when we take responsibility for our actions and sincerely acknowledge our mistakes, God removes our wrongdoings as if they were lost in the depths of the ocean. Now, this doesn’t forsake consequences—but it does prove God gives us a clean slate, extends overwhelming forgiveness, and gives us an opportunity to move forward with a newfound desire to please Him.
Research shows that the human brain isn’t wired for perfection. Instead, it is wired to adapt! Chasing after perfection isn’t the goal, chasing after Jesus is—and when we adapt ourselves to become more like Him, it brews a confidence that changes everything.
God, I’m grateful for Your conviction. I welcome it, because I want my character to be more like You. Amen.
This is an excerpt from A Confidence That Changes Everything: Devotions to Shine Bright in This Topsy-Turvy Life, the new book by Hannah Crews!
