Your Repentance Doesn’t Burden Jesus Christ; It Brightens His Joy

Sister Tamara W. Runia’s message from this last General Conference has been brought up again and again in my life the last five months. It was such a powerful message that I know I needed to hear, and based on what I have heard from others, it needed to be heard by a lot of people. Sister Runia always makes me smile – she reminds me of the perfect young women leader (which is probably why she is so great in her calling) and feels very relatable and easy to talk to. She dropped so many “truth bombs” as I like to call them, and they went straight to my heart. So many tender thoughts and questions that I have wrestled with in my life. I am grateful for her vulnerability and openness.

There are many “truth bombs” I could talk about, but one that hit me particularly hard was her teaching about obedience and worth. This was something I have had wrong in my mind for far too much of my life, and I must admit, it is something that Satan still works on me. Sister Runia taught, “Your worth isn’t tied to obedience. Your worth is constant; it never changes. It was given to you by God, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to change it. Obedience brings blessings; that is true. But worth isn’t one of them. Your worth is always “great in the sight of God,” no matter where your decisions have taken you.”

Isn’t that something we all need to hear or be reminded of?

I am grateful for this beautiful message that spoke straight to my heart. It is exactly how I hope my children will view our Savior and view repentance. As something joyful and a turning back to the Lord. He loves us. No matter what.

Prompting

I want to practice what Sister Runia calls affectionate obedience. I want to choose to stay and repent every day because I love Him. And I need to internalize that my worth is not tied to my obedience or level of perfection.

Invitations

• Before you pray, imagine Jesus Christ close by. He is your Advocate with the Father. Ask yourself, “What would my Savior say to the Father about me?” And then become silent. Listen for that voice that says good things about you – the voice of the Savior, your finest friend, and your Father in Heaven, who is really there.
• Be brave and believe in Christ! Walk over and turn on the Light – our Perfect Brightness of Hope.

Promise

The minute we bring a broken heart courageously toward [our Savior], He is immediately there.

My Favorite Takeaways

“If you wait until you’re clean enough or perfect enough to go to the Savior, you’ve missed the whole point!

I testify that while God cares about our mistakes, He cares more about what happens after we make a mistake. Are we going to turn to Him again and again? Are we going to stay in this covenant relationship?

The commandments are the path away from pain. And repentance is too.

Our Savior was willing to suffer the pain of His Atonement because He loves you.

The invitation to repent is an expression of God’s love.

Saying yes to that invitation is an expression of ours.

Your repentance doesn’t burden Jesus Christ; it brightens His joy!

Repentance is our best news!

We don’t stay on the covenant path by never making a mistake. We stay on the path by repenting every day.

He’s excited every time He sees us on our knees. He delights to forgive us because to Him we are delightful!

You are not the voice in your head or the mistakes you have made. You may need to say that out loud too. Tell Satan, “Not today,” Put him behind you.

Feel that pull, the godly sorrow that turns you toward your Savior, and watch His grace enter into your life and the lives of those you love. I promise that the minute we bring a broken heart courageously toward Him, He is immediately there.

The Savior is forever brighter than the darkness of shame. He would never attack your worth. So watch closely .

Your worth isn’t tied to obedience. Your worth is constant; it never changes. It was given to you by God, and there’s nothing you or anyone else can do to change it. Obedience brings blessings; that is true. But worth isn’t one of them. Your worth is always “great in the sight of God,” no matter where your decisions have taken you.

I want a relationship with the one person who gets me, who knows my heart and how hard I’m trying!

Coming unto Christ is saying, “Will you help me?” with hope, a revealed assurance that His arms are extended to you always. I believe this fresh view of repentance means that even though we don’t have perfect obedience yet, we try affectionate obedience now, choosing to stay, again and again, because we love Him.

Before you pray, imagine Jesus Christ close by. He is your Advocate with the Father. Ask yourself, “What would my Savior say to the Father about me?”

And then become silent.

Listen for that voice that says good things about you – the voice of the Savior, your finest friend, and your Father in Heaven, who is really there. Remember, Their love and your worth are always great, no matter what!

I stand here to witness that Jesus Christ gives light to those who sit in darkness. So, on those days when you feel that voice telling you to hide, that you should hide in a dark room all by yourself, I invite you to be brave and believe Christ! Walk over and turn on the Light – our Perfect Brightness of Hope.

“May the Lord of Lights wrap you in His arms and console and love you continually.” May we love Him continually and choose Him, again and again.”

FULL text and video of Sister Tamara W. Runia’s message can be found HERE.

Other messages from the April 2025 General Conference that I found particularly impactful:

• Confidence in the Presence of God by President Russell M. Nelson
• Right Before Our Eyes by Elder Ronald A. Rasband
• Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty by Elder Sandino Roman
• Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior by Elder Dale G. Renlund
• The Times of Restitution of All Things by Elder David A. Bednar