Hope of Glory by Lisa Thacker

The last few months I have had the opportunity to fill in as the teacher for our youth group at church. What a privilege it has been. I have been able to get to know our youth a little more than the average pastor’s wife does. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve filled in many times before, a Sunday here or a Wednesday there, but not for months at time. Before my husband became pastor fourteen years ago we were the youth leaders for our church. Afterwards, we continued to do both, while the Lord allowed us to train-up a new youth leader within our church. Then, we were able to focus on other ministries, train-up Sunday school teachers, preachers and missionaries.

Feeling like I was a little out of touch with our youth, the Lord opened the door and I stepped through it. Not realizing the current events that are taking place in their young lives we began a study on changing ourselves and improving our walk with the Lord. This study helped us look at and improve our faith, our love, our repentance, our Bible study, our prayer and our endurance as a Christian.

At the beginning of this study, I asked the youth to examine themselves, and identify what things they think needed work and improvement in their personal lives. Some of the answers were not what I expected, but I was not surprised either. There were two responses I felt needed immediate attention; one was regarding anger and the other was forgiveness. In the following weeks, we dealt with the anger issues and using Scripture, things were brought into light and it was revealed that there was a need for forgiveness. Not just an “I’m sorry”, but a heartfelt, Godly sorrowful apology was the key (cure) for this anger. The majority of the anger that was present was because of something that was said; I had to remember that I was dealing with youths (teens) and not adults. Teens pretty much wear their feelings on their shoulders, however, an offense was made and the need to make things right was necessary. Moving on to forgiveness seemed to be an intense study for our youth, mainly because they assumed that a simple “I’m Sorry” was all that was necessary. Well ladies, that’s not true forgiveness or repentance.

I explained that repentance of sin wasn’t just a simple “I’m Sorry”, we must ask for forgiveness with an apology. Try saying, “Will you forgive me?” It is hard to say because it also is an admittance of sin along with an apology. We have taught our children to say “I’m sorry”, then on the flip side we taught them to accept the “I’m sorry” by saying “that’s o.k.” This lets them off the hook by not realizing the extent of what they’ve done.

2Corinthians. 7:9-10 “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

Luke 17:3 “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

Try asking for forgiveness next time instead of just saying I’m sorry. There will always be repentance with Godly sorrow, which will always lead to restoration.

True sorrow will always bring forth true forgiveness.