No right-minded parent enjoys having to punish their children. When my children were young, I longed for them to obey and do what was right. I sometimes waited all day, hoping they would do something that would be worthy of praise. But, sadly, the day would often end without my ever being able to praise them. I told them I loved them, but it was painful when I had to deal with their bad behavior. I hated having to be the policeman.

Here we see the heart of God. His people continue to rebel and will not repent. He longs to see them on the path of righteousness. How desperately He longs to commend them. But instead of doing what is right, they continue to rebel.

God has pulled back His protection. The enemy has made their lives miserable. God has done everything He can do to bring them back. But even after allowing them to reap the results of their sin, to the point that there is nothing more God can do, they keep digging deeper.

The Picture: a person who has been whipped and breaten over and over again, yet will not turn back. They have been beaten to the point that there is no other place to beat them. Every place on their body is a bruised and bloody mess.

Your mind and your heart determine the direction you will go. If your heart is faint and your mind is sick, you will continue believing the lies of the devil and will continue to wallow in sin and hopelessness.

Your only hope is to humble yourself. Don't worry about what people think. Step on your pride. Push it down into the mud. Put on sackcloth and ashes and return to the Lord your God. He is gracious and will forgive and heal you. The Bible tells us that He loves us with an unending, everlasting love. He is the father who patiently waits, watching for his wayward son to return home. Seek forgiveness. Turn away from evil. As painful as it may seem, turn to God and be healed.