READ: ISAIAH 30:15-18; MATTHEW 12:15-21; ROMANS 10:9-13

I was struggling and needed advice. I thought my camp counselor from summer youth group camp might be the person to ask. So I wrote to the counselor, who I’ll call Libby, and explained my dilemma.

Years before, I had put my faith in Jesus for forgiveness, trusting Him to pay the price for my sins and make me pure before God. I believed Jesus had paid for the punishment I deserved. I believed He had risen from the dead. But I just couldn’t trust I had “done it right.” Did I ask Jesus in the right way to forgive me and lead my life? When I asked Jesus to wipe away my guilt before God, did I ask correctly? I felt I couldn’t be sure.

Here was Libby’s answer: Write it in a book. She suggested I pray and ask Jesus once more to rescue me from my sins and make me God’s child. I had done this already—several times. But I took Libby’s advice, told God again that I wanted Jesus to be my Savior, and wrote the date in a notebook. It didn’t help! I still anxiously wondered—Did I do it right?

Libby intended to guide me. However, what I’ve learned since then has brought me the peace I longed for. God is a loving Father who wants to have a relationship with us. He doesn’t build barriers to keep us from Him—our sin does that. When we trust Jesus to pay for our sins because we cannot erase our own guilt, we become God’s children. God is not like a stern taskmaster looking for anything out of place. No, He longs to give us grace and show us compassion. When we approach God, even with trembling faith, He welcomes us. We may not have strong faith, but we can trust God offers tremendous love. • Allison Wilson Lee

• Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, He is our Savior (see our "Know Jesus" page). But, even as Christians, we may still have moments when we doubt that God accepts us. When that happens, it can help to pray something like this: “Thank you, God, that Jesus IS my Savior.” It can also help to consider the question, “What lies about God’s character might lead me to those doubts?”

• God invites us to rest in His mighty love for us, and this is one of the ways He helps our faith grow stronger. As we get to know God better, we often find that the fear of being rejected by Him feels less overwhelming. How would you like to grow in your relationship with Jesus? Who is a trusted Christian in your life who could help you pursue deeper intimacy with Him?

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. Isaiah 30:18 (NIV)