“You Knew Better… But God Stayed”

We all have moments when we knew better and still chose differently. In this episode, Sharon talks about the guilt, the replaying, and the distance we often create between ourselves and God — and the truth that God doesn’t leave when we get it wrong. He stays, restores, and redeems. If you’ve been carrying regret or feeling disqualified, this conversation will remind you that consequences aren’t condemnation and your story isn’t over.

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Transcript

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Welcome to Step Out Sis, the podcast where we grow, heal, and walk confidently in God's calling. I am your host, Sharon. And sis, today, this is one of those honest conversations because if we are being real, a lot of us have made decisions without really consulting God first. I know I have. And because of that, I've had to deal with some things: consequences, disappointment, heartbreak. And what I've noticed is in those moments, instead of running to God, we start pulling away from Him. Because we already know better, we start saying things like, I should have listened, I knew better, and I should have been patient. And instead of going back to God, we sit in guilt like we have to punish ourselves first. But here's what I've learned. Yes, God allows consequences, but He doesn't abandon you. He's not saying, Well, you made that choice, now you're on your own. No, He's saying, I'm still right here. I can still redeem this. I still love you. That's the kind of God we serve. Even in the mess, even in the chaos, even in situations we know we created, God is still present. So if you're listening right now and you're dealing with something, and deep down you know, yeah, I had a part in this. Hear me clearly, sis, you are not alone and you are not beyond redemption. And this actually brings me back to the woman at the well, because her story still speaks to this. But I want you to look at it a little differently today. She had a past, she had made choices, and instead of being around people, she was off by herself. She went to the well at a time of day when nobody else would be there. And if we're honest, that's what we do sometimes, right? We withdraw, we isolate, we avoid. But what I love about that story is Jesus met her there. Not after she got it together, not after she fixed everything, he met her right in the middle of it. And he didn't shame her, he didn't condemn her, he spoke to her, he saw her, he offered her something better. And what's powerful is that the same woman who was hiding ended up going back and telling others. God didn't disqualify her because of her past, he still used her, and that same grace is available to us. And I need you to understand this. Just because you're dealing with consequences doesn't mean you're in condemnation. This might actually be the place where wisdom starts to develop. This might be the place where God is slowing you down, not to punish you, but to prepare you. So what do we do from here? We go back to God, not hiding, not avoiding Him, but honestly. We ask for forgiveness, we take accountability, and then this part is important. We forgive ourselves, because if God has forgiven you, why are you still holding it over your head? Why are you still holding it over your own head? There's always a lesson in the storm. You may not see it while you're in it, but when you come out, that's when you reflect, that's when you grow, that's when things start to shift. And don't skip this part. Give God praise for bringing you through. Because even here, God is still building you, He's strengthening you, He's refining you, and you'll still be able to say, I am built for this season. Not because you got everything right, but because God stayed faithful through it all. I'm a living witness that you can grow from your mistakes. You can embrace every season of your life, you can learn the lessons in those seasons, and no matter what stage you're in, God can use you. Do your best with what you have and let God do the rest. So if you're listening and thinking, I should have known better, let me remind you of something. God already knew, and He never left, you're not disqualified, you're not forgotten, and this is not the end of your story. This is the season where wisdom is born, where healing begins, and where you stand up and say, I am still built for this season. Before we go, sis, if this episode spoke to you, if you're in a season where you're learning, healing, or even forgiving yourself, go ahead and follow Step Out Sis on your favorite platform. I want you to do something else. Share this episode with one woman. Not everybody, just one. The one who's been quiet, the one who's been carrying guilt, the one who feels like she messed up too much. And sis, give yourself permission to release the guilt because this season is not about punishment, it's about growth. And you are still built for this. Let us pray. God, thank you for meeting us even in the places where we didn't get it right. Thank you for your grace, your mercy, and your patience with us. For the woman listening right now who feels weighed down by regret or shame, remind her that she is not disqualified. Remind her you are still with her, still working, still covering her. Give her peace where she feels overwhelmed, clarity where she feels confused, and the strength to forgive herself. We trust you, God, even here. And we declare we are still built for this season. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. And with that, I will see you next week right here on Step Out Six.