Sometimes I can barely breathe...

Sometimes I can barely catch my breath when I think about what has happened in my life in the last 4 years, the struggles and strongholds I have had to overcome (and am still overcoming), and the people I have lost in the process. It's super painful and sometimes even still a little unbelievable to me. I remember growing up and always hearing my friends and people in my church talk about these crazy, life-changing testimonies they had after they became saved and accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior. They would have these intense life situations, sins, or addictions that they had to overcome through the blood and love of Christ. I was never one of those people. I grew up in the church from a baby and gradually learned about the Bible, the Gospel, and God/Christ through weekly Sunday School classes, church services, and youth group. I remember in middle school and high school feeling like perhaps something was missing to my testimony, wondering why I didn't have that big life change. By the time I graduated from high school, I simply accepted and acknowledged that every person has their own unique testimony, and I felt blessed that I didn't have any huge life situations or hurdles I had to face in my life thus far.

Acceptance vs. Accountability

Do you accept others for who they are? Do you accept them for all their flaws, weaknesses, and sins? We are called to accept and love all, just as Jesus did. We are called to forgive others just as Jesus forgave us. But why is that such a difficult task sometimes? Why do we struggle to accept and forgive others? We are all sinners and we are all human, so their sins and flaws are no worse than our own. So, isn't it hypocritical to call out others on their sins when you have your own sins?