Without repentance

Without repentance, sin always circles back. It returns again and again—repeating, ruining, eroding our lives and the lives of those we love. That’s the nature of unrepentant sin: it doesn't stay still, and it doesn’t stay private.

But repentance isn’t just about feeling bad or saying sorry. It’s about turning. Turning away from sin and toward Jesus. The lower we go, the more clearly we see the height of His mercy.

"And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." John 12:32 (NIV)

That’s what He does—draws us up, out, and into something new.

I’ve dug a deep well in my life. Nearly forty years of striving, failing, repeating. But every well—no matter how deep—has a bottom. What changed everything for me was realizing I didn’t have to hit bottom to find life. There’s a spring of living water available. A source that never runs dry. But you have to tap in.

There are moments when the truth of God feels so clear it’s almost electric. The insight, the confirmation, the stirring of the Spirit—faith-building in every way.

“Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” John 16:30 (NIV)

But more often than not, the work of God comes in the quiet and ordinary. And the world doesn’t notice. The spectacular gets attention. The daily obedience. That gets overlooked.

Heaven operates differently.

The King of heaven entered the kingdoms of earth not to mirror them, but to flip them upside down. Our world exalts strength, power, and performance. But Jesus—He lifts the humble. He sees the broken. He draws near to the hungry, the meek, the poor in spirit.

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.” Luke 1:52 (NIV)

If your life feels low right now—don’t despair. That may be the very place He lifts you from.

Repentance is how we rise.