I was talking with one of my teenage sons recently. The conversation turned toward him feeling deeply sad and almost on the verge of despair over some recent sin in his life. His logic, “Well if I sin in this way, how can I even be sure that God still loves me?” I’ve been there. I bet you have too. Our own mistakes and flesh get in our way, and we don’t just wonder about our choices, we extrapolate our sin into God’s character. We might feel beyond hope, or as if our sin finally was the straw that broke the camel’s back and God has tossed us out. I led him to Psalm 51. In that Psalm, which appears to have been penned right after David’s atrocious behavior with Bathsheba (adultery + lying + murder + abuse of power, all rolled into one). In that Psalm, David: admits wrongdoing; seeks pardon; acknowledges God’s power to cleanse; and promises to tell others of God’s unfailing love. David knows he can’t perform some outward act to make this right, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” When we bring genuine repentance over our sin to God, he does not kick us out. Instead, he can restore the joy of our salvation, create in us a clean heart and renew us with a right spirit. We can teach and model this for our children, especially when they’re wondering whether there’s any path back to God for them.

How to have a happy marriage: A husband’s guide: The words “I’m sorry” truly are magic words. They can bring healing quicker than almost anything out there. If you and your wife are at a standoff, be the first one to say I’m sorry. It has an amazing way of breaking down walls and restoring relationships.

The godly dad rebukes those who wander: The last episode in the Nehemiah series calls on us dads to let our kids know when they’re just not doing it right. When we rebuke our children, it’s crucial to be wise in how we go about it. One idea is to keep the conversation private, mainly because kids can quickly become embarrassed when their actions are challenged in a public setting. The real power of rebuking comes when done in a private, loving manner. When we take our time and measure our response to an emerging issue, our kids are more likely to trust us to get them back on track.

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” – Timothy Keller

“Where do we even start on the daily walk of restoration and awakening? We start where we are.” – Anne Lamott

“The pattern of the prodigal is: rebellion, ruin, repentance, reconciliation, restoration.” – Edwin Louis Cole

Read Psalm 51. Either, you need it today, or you’ll need it soon. That word spoken in anger, the pursuit of illicit pleasure or that moment when you just weren’t there for your wife or kids as you’d like to be. You may be tempted to be despairingly sad, as if God’s given up on you. David’s sin was deep, atrocious, intentional and destructive. Even so, he was able to come back to God in repentance and seek restoration. If David can have confidence that God would receive him, I bet you can too.

Kent Evans
Author of The Manhood Journey, co-founder of Manhood Journey and Father On Purpose.

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.