In a hopeless world, we can see the dim light from a distance radiating the hope we long for.  Jesus Christ came to this earth to accomplish an everlasting relationship so that we could be free from separation and yet...we are pulling away.  Deep down inside I think a part of us wants to be left alone to our own selfish desires and dreams.  Sometimes we even choose our own hurt and guilt over the Lord's joy and peace.     Many of us can sit around and share stories about all the wrong things that have been done to us. We can recall all the bad choices in our lives that has brought us to a place of shame and guilt.  We can look at all the hurt in our lives and magnify the fact that we could never truly stand whole before a perfect God.  When God is speaking purity into our lives, we cringe and want to cry out, "not me Lord... I'm not worthy...".  If it's the truth that sets you free, then it is the lies that keep you bound.  So is our plea of unworthiness  setting us free or restraining us?   The story of Jonah is a perfect example of someone who sought after his own will above the Lord's.  It's easy to look at Jonah's story and criticize him for blatantly disobeying God.  We find ourselves saying things like, "I know if I heard God's voice telling me to do something, I would never run the opposite direction!" or "I would be too afraid to disobey God!"   How bold have we become that we would deny the very same disobedience in our own lives?  How many of us have said that we are not perfect, that God couldn't possibly love us, that we have repeatedly failed him? How bold have we become to tell God, that His sacrifice wasn't enough to bring us back to Him?  How bold have we become to tell God that His Son's pure blood fails to cover our past, present, and even our future?   I encourage you to know and embrace the fact that the hurt, the lies, and the pain is all washed away in His magnificent love.  You can "stand boldly before the throne of grace.." (Heb. 4:13) and walk in Christ's richest blessings without being ashamed of what you've done or what has been done to you.   My dear sisters, I admonish you in the Lord, let us set aside our pride and completely allow ourselves to surrender to Christ's sweet love.  His amazing grace has washed away all your suffering and He wants you to obey Him now.  He calls you pure, holy, righteous, beautiful, whole, and strong. He wants you to obey by believing Him.  He wants you to stop running away from His words and to start walking in His truth.   -Joyce James