Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be
fruitful, and multiply
Today, I want to bring up a subject that can sometimes be
difficult to talk about and even more difficult to understand. It is about the
sexual thoughts and feelings that we, as human beings, naturally experience.
There is a tendency among many of us, especially those of us who are deeply
committed to our faith, to feel guilt or shame when we encounter these thoughts
and feelings.
First, let me affirm that sexual thoughts and feelings are a
natural part of being human. God, in all His wisdom and love, made us sexual
beings. He designed us to desire physical and emotional intimacy, to long for
companionship and to find beauty in others. This is evident in the scriptures,
in the Song of Solomon, where the love between a man and a woman is celebrated
in vivid and passionate terms.
Yet, we often feel wrong or guilty for having these thoughts
or feelings, especially if they do not fit neatly into our understanding of
what is "right" or "acceptable." This comes from a place of
misunderstanding. What matters is how we respond to our thoughts, and whether
we allow them to guide our actions in ways that are inconsistent with our faith
and values that we are taught in the Holy Bible.
Remember, our God is a loving God. These thoughts are to be based in love, if these feelings lead us to objectify others, to see them
merely as tools for our own gratification, then we are straying from God's
intention for sexuality. Similarly, if these feelings push us to be unfaithful, to lie, cheat, exploit or harm others, then we have allowed
something that is beautiful and natural to become distorted by sin.
God understands our
struggles, our temptations, our fears. He does not condemn us for being human.
Instead, He offers us His love, His grace, His guidance. He is there for us,
always, ready to help us navigate the complexities of our humanity. If you are
struggling with guilt or shame over your sexual thoughts or feelings, I encourage
you to bring them to God. Talk to Him openly and honestly about what you are
experiencing. Seek His guidance, His wisdom, His peace.
Remember, God sees you, He knows you, He loves you - all of
you. Do not let guilt or shame drive a wedge between you and your Creator.
Instead, let His love and grace guide you in understanding, accepting, and
expressing yourself in ways that honour Him and affirm the dignity and worth of
every person. May you know the peace, love, and acceptance of our loving God,
today and always.