Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy
Tamara W. Runia, First Counselor in the Young Women General Presidency
Sister Runia reassures that repentance doesn't burden Christ but enhances His joy, emphasizing constant forgiveness.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Embrace Repentance as a Gift
Sister Runia encourages us to view repentance not as a burden but as a joyous gift that brings us closer to Christ. She emphasizes that repentance should be seen as a commandment that expresses God's love and our love in return.
Yes, your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens His joy!
The Savior loves us always but especially when we repent.Key Points:
- Repentance is a commandment and an expression of love.
- Our Savior delights in forgiving us, and repentance brings Him joy.
- Repentance is the path away from pain and towards Christ's light.
- Reflect on a time when you felt closer to Christ after repenting.
- Share an experience where repentance brought you peace.
- Describe how your understanding of repentance has evolved over time.
Understand Your Worth
Sister Runia clarifies that our worth is constant and independent of our obedience. She reassures us that God's love and our worth remain great, regardless of our mistakes.
Your worth isn’t tied to obedience. Your worth is constant; it never changes.
Your worth is always "great in the sight of God," no matter where your decisions have taken you.Key Points:
- Our worth is given by God and is unchanging.
- Obedience brings blessings, but it does not affect our inherent worth.
- God delights in us and values us beyond our actions.
- Recall a moment when you doubted your worth and how you overcame it.
- Share a story of someone who exemplified understanding their worth in God's eyes.
- How does knowing your worth is constant affect your daily life?
Combat the Darkness of Shame
Sister Runia discusses the destructive nature of shame and how it can distance us from God. She encourages us to reject shame and embrace the Savior's light and love.
Shame is a darkness so heavy it feels that if you took it out of your body, it would have an actual weight or heft to it.
Satan is the thief of hope.Key Points:
- Shame tells us we are our mistakes, which is a lie.
- The adversary uses shame to keep us from God.
- Christ's light is brighter than the darkness of shame.
- Describe a time when you felt trapped by shame and how you found relief.
- Share how you have seen others overcome shame through Christ.
- What practices help you reject shame and embrace the Savior's love?
Stay in Covenant Relationship with Christ
Sister Runia emphasizes the importance of maintaining a covenant relationship with Christ, acknowledging our mistakes but continuously turning back to Him.
We don’t stay on the covenant path by never making a mistake. We stay on the path by repenting every day.
I want a relationship with the one person who gets me, who knows my heart and how hard I’m trying!Key Points:
- Staying in a covenant relationship means repenting daily.
- Christ understands our struggles and knows our hearts.
- Affectionate obedience is choosing to stay with Christ despite imperfections.
- Reflect on how your covenant relationship with Christ has evolved.
- Share a moment when returning to Christ after a mistake strengthened your faith.
- How does the concept of affectionate obedience resonate with you?
Visualize Christ's Love and Advocacy
Sister Runia invites us to imagine Christ advocating for us and expressing His understanding of our efforts and struggles. She encourages us to listen for His voice that speaks good things about us.
Imagine Jesus Christ close by. He is your Advocate with the Father.
Listen for that voice that says good things about you—the voice of the Savior, your finest friend.Key Points:
- Visualizing Christ's advocacy helps us feel His love and understanding.
- Christ knows the degree of difficulty we face and supports us.
- Listening for Christ's voice can bring comfort and reassurance.
- Share an experience where you felt Christ advocating for you.
- Describe a time when imagining Christ's love helped you through a challenge.
- How do you cultivate the ability to hear Christ's voice in your life?
