I’ve gotten into a lot of trouble in my life. From the time I was a child making small, inconsequential errors in judgment, to being an adult getting in over my head—more times than I can count—just expecting to one day be enlightened with the solution to all my problems.
Over time, I got used to suffering. I remember once, a boss I had when I was a young man referred to me as a “struggler.” He meant it as a compliment, as though I had some kind of skill for working my way through difficult situations. But the truth is, I don’t think I ever developed that as a skill. I think I just got so used to resigning myself to the consequences of my actions that I stopped fearing them. I simply did everything in my power to manipulate the outcome to suit me best.
I believe a lot of us operate this way, whether we admit it or not. And I think it’s more damaging than we realize.
Ask yourself: Do you continue in sin because you’ve gotten used to the consequences? Or maybe you don’t fear them because you believe you deserve them—and you’re prepared to accept them?
But consider this: Suffering the consequences of your actions is not the same as coming under judgment for them. For every sin you’ve ever committed, you deserve the wrath of the holy God you offended. And yet—you haven’t suffered that wrath. Not yet, anyway.
Consequences are not the wrath of God.
If you fall off a skateboard you have no business riding, you’re not under divine judgment—you’re just dealing with the consequences. If you lie to someone and they get upset, that’s a consequence—not a penalty. But if you never repent of that sin, you will eventually suffer the wrath of the Lord.
Unless…
If you repent and are forgiven, the wrath is still poured out—but not on you. It was suffered by the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.
Maybe that truth is an obstacle for some people. Maybe there are those who would rather accept the consequences of their actions—like some sort of delusional act of heroism—than accept that it was God they offended, and Jesus who suffered because of it.
Does that sound familiar?
The good news is this: Jesus Christ willingly and completely took that suffering upon Himself for you. He did it out of love for you. Scripture tells us that “for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2). He wasn’t burdened with our consequences against His will. He overcame our sin with His righteousness, by His own free choice.
This is not something to feel guilty about—it’s something to celebrate. His victory over our sin is something we can share in. All we must do is ask Him to forgive us and make Him our Lord and Savior.
It’s tough. Believe me, I know. I didn’t want to accept that a good man—let alone the perfect God of all creation—had to die because of what I had done. The idea that someone who loves me so deeply would suffer because of me was almost impossible to accept.
But He pursued me. He pressed me past my fear and selfishness, and showed me the truth. And I assure you, He can do the same for you.
Not just because He’s all-powerful—but because He loves you that much.
He didn’t overcome your sin with power alone. He overcame it with love.
Let Him love you.
And love Him back.
It’s the only way.
