Tag: Spiritual Healing

Why God’s Perfect Plan Can Bring Us Shame—and Healing

In Ezekiel 43:10-11, God commands the prophet to share the vision of the temple with His people, saying, “Describe the temple to the people of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their sins.” This might seem strange at first—why would the description of something as beautiful as God’s temple cause shame? The answer lies in what the temple represents. In its perfection, holiness, and divine order, the temple was a physical reminder of God’s standards for His people. It was a blueprint not only for worship but for life—a life that Israel had strayed from.

The vision of the temple in Ezekiel contrasts sharply with Israel’s disobedience, idolatry, and neglect of their covenant with God. They had defiled the first temple with their sin, and as a result, it was destroyed. Now, as Ezekiel presents the plan for a new, perfect temple, the people are confronted with how far they’ve fallen from God’s design. In that moment, the shame they feel isn’t meant to be a crushing weight of guilt—it’s a pathway to repentance. God isn’t showing them the temple to condemn them but to lead them back into right relationship with Him.

For us, this principle still holds. When we come face-to-face with God’s standards, His holiness, and His perfect design for our lives, it can often bring a sense of shame. We realize how much we’ve fallen short, how we’ve allowed sin or neglect to creep into our lives. But just like with Israel, God doesn’t reveal this to condemn us. He reveals it to call us back to Him. The shame we feel is not the end; it’s the beginning of healing and restoration. In our brokenness, God invites us into something better—a life aligned with His will, full of grace, forgiveness, and transformation.

When we encounter God’s perfect plan—whether through Scripture, the prompting of the Holy Spirit, or even the example of others living out their faith—it can bring a mixture of emotions. We may feel unworthy or ashamed of where we are. But take heart: God reveals these things because He loves us and wants to restore us. Just as He promised Israel a new temple and a fresh start, He offers us newness in Christ. The shame we feel is not a burden to carry but a catalyst for turning back to God. In Him, we find forgiveness, restoration, and the power to live as He intended.

Relentless Pursuit: God’s Unyielding Love for the Lost

In Ezekiel 34, we find a powerful portrayal of God as the Good Shepherd who pursues His lost sheep with relentless love and compassion. The shepherds of Israel had failed miserably, prioritizing their own gain over the well-being of their flock. Yet, even in the face of such leadership failure, God Himself steps in, promising to search for His scattered sheep, rescue them from danger, and bring them back to the safety of His fold.

This passage highlights a profound truth: no matter how far we have strayed, God never gives up on us. He actively seeks out the lost, the broken, and the wandering. His pursuit is not passive; it’s an active, determined effort to bring us back into relationship with Him.

In our lives today, we can easily find ourselves wandering away from God—whether through deliberate choices, gradual neglect, or simply getting lost in the busyness of life. We might think we’re too far gone, that our failures are too great, or that we’ve wandered too far from the fold. But Ezekiel 34 reminds us that God is always on the lookout for us. His love is relentless; He never stops searching until He brings us back to safety.

God’s pursuit is motivated by His deep love for us. He doesn’t seek us out because of what we can offer Him; rather, He pursues us because of who He is—our loving and faithful Shepherd. Just as a shepherd knows the unique needs and vulnerabilities of each sheep, God knows us intimately. He knows our weaknesses, our fears, and our tendencies to wander. And despite all of this, He chooses to love us and bring us back to Himself.

God’s pursuit doesn’t just stop at finding us; He also restores and heals us. Ezekiel 34:16 speaks of God’s promise to bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. When God finds us in our brokenness, He doesn’t leave us there. He heals our wounds, strengthens our weaknesses, and restores us to the fullness of life in Him. This restoration is not just physical or emotional; it’s spiritual. God’s desire is to bring us back into a right relationship with Him, where we can experience the abundant life He has promised.

As recipients of God’s relentless pursuit and restoration, our response should be one of gratitude and surrender. Knowing that God has searched for us, found us, and restored us, we are called to live in a way that reflects His love and grace. We are also called to extend that same love to others, becoming instruments of God’s pursuit in the lives of those around us.

Take a moment to reflect on how God has pursued you in your life. When have you felt lost or distant from Him? How did He bring you back? Consider how you can be more aware of His pursuit in your daily life and how you can be an extension of His love to those who are lost.