Dear Backslider

Dear Backslider,

I remember when we used to be best friends. I remember singing together at church and our prayer meetings at the altar when the presence of God touched us so sweetly. Everybody liked you - what wasn't there to like? Beautiful, blessed with talent, interacted with people so well, your love for kids, your unique skills and wonderful smile. You made people feel welcomed and many looked up to you.
You were a leader. You had the touch of God on your life. You were so special. You were done wrong.

I remember the pain I felt in my own heart when you told me what happened to you. I remember crying with you and our long talk on the phone that night. You didn't deserve what you went through, not in the least bit. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't fair.

I watched you begin to struggle spiritually. I saw you really trying to be strong and I remember praying with you at the altar and seeing you cry out to God. I was behind you, I wanted to see you make it. I kept you lifted up in prayer and did my best to encourage you.

Years have gone by now, and I wish you were still here. I knew at one point you really wanted to come back, but felt unworthy to do so. I wish you would have realized that worthiness is not a requirement. I haven't seen you in a long time, and I wonder how you're doing and where your life is taking you. I understand we took separate paths in life and that's why we don't see eachother anymore.

I want you to know that you are still thought of and prayed for. Your soul is wept over. You have a special place in my heart, and you have a special place in God's heart, too. He made you, and He wishes you would come back even more than you could imagine. The enemy of your soul has made you feel unworthy to ever come back. Guilt is what you have struggled with. Condemnation is from the devil, but conviction comes from God. Condemnation is that sorrow of the world that drives you away from God. Conviction is godly sorrow that draws you back to Him. Godly sorry worketh repentance.
2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Please understand that there is no sin that He cannot forgive. Many people are lost because the devil kept them feeling guilty and unworthy, so they never went back to God and they died that way.

I know that you feel you have already thrown so much away, so what's the point? Well, you can't have those years back, but you can give your future to God. Let Him be the author of your life. As it says in the book of Ecclessiastes 7:8, "Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof..."
The end is what matters. You may have messed up, you may have lost the battle, but it's not over. All you have to do is come back. Lay down your worries, hurt, anger, and sin at the altar. God wants you to give it all to Him.

It is becoming very obvious that He is coming back soon. I would hate for you to be lost for eternity. It would break my heart, especially after those good times we had together in the presence of God when your life looked so promising. There still is a promise. God forgives. Where sin did abound, grace did much more abound.

Dear backslider, your answers are in the Word of God. There is still a chance if you want it. You just have to do your part.

With love and sincerity,

Hope