Dear Brittany:  Why is it so hard to take God serious? I feel like if I put two feet in and fail or fall to sin, I am a hypocrite.

I can definitely sympathize with whoever wrote this question. Growing up as a “church kid,” I’ve always been mindful of the activities I participated in. But I also grew up in a public school system with non-Christian friends and temptation, so I’d often fall short. I still do. It’s completely normal.

Don’t let one mistake, or your hundredth mistake discourage you from seeking God and striving to be the best Christian you know how to be.

I know that a lot of teens and young adults say, “Once I get older, settle down, and have kids… then I’ll be a committed Christian.” But tomorrow is not promised.

The problem here is that too many people believe that in order to be a Christian, you must be perfect. We see these church members every Sunday and we look up to them because they are so godly and seem so perfect. We often get intimidated and assume that we’d never be able to fit in because of the sins that we commit. But you would be surprised about what goes on in your own church leader’s homes behind closed doors. I am not calling them hypocrites. I am calling them human! Humans with flaws. We ALL make mistakes, whether you sit in the front or the back row of church.

So put both feet in! Strive to be the best Christian you can possibly be. The Bible says you should not be lukewarm, or in other words put one foot in and one foot out. If you fall short, just ask for forgiveness! The most beautiful thing about our God is that He will forgive you for something you believe is unforgiveable. Not saying you should intentionally sin, ask for forgiveness, and then repeat the cycle because that’s not how it works. But God knows your heart and He knows when you are genuine.

If you are struggling in a certain area or you just can’t seem to give something up, ask God for the strength and willpower to take those desires out of your heart. Don’t give up. It’s okay to make mistakes. You are not perfect, I am not perfect, your pastors not perfect, and neither are the rest of the Christians on this earth. Don’t be afraid to fail, because we ALL do. God knows your heart so keep going!

Love,

Brittany Kayla

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