We can all look back and regret the sins of our youth. But we shouldn’t judge ourselves too harshly for our season of immaturity. This is not to excuse our past sins, but it is accepting grace and learning to live in freedom as we move forward.
There’s a time to be a child and a time to be a man. And we don’t chastise a boy for his youth, though it is our job to help him mature. And as he becomes a man he rightly puts away his childish things. In this same way, as we grow and mature we put away the sins of our youth, while not beating ourselves up for these seasons of immaturity.
For instance, we might have entered marriage with a very selfish mindset. And our selfishness might have strained the relationship with our wife in many ways. As we grow, we acknowledge and repent of our selfishness – learning to intentionally consider the interest of others and not just ourselves. At the same time, there’s no need to condemn ourselves for what we didn’t know before.
Of course, there are likely still lingering consequences from our past sins. And maturity is not denying or otherwise dismissing these costs. But we must also learn to extend grace and forgive ourselves for our times of ignorance.
While our youthful days are embarrassing, our past immaturity is not the verdict on who we are today. We acknowledge the cost of our ignorance without condemnation, whether from ourselves or others, and accept the grace to grow into our better.
In the end, humbly accept the cost of your past sins while living in grace. There’s no need to beat yourself up for your seasons of immaturity, though growing in maturity does call you to make things right today.
Photo by Sowemimo Bamidele on Unsplash
