You did it again. That thing you told God you would never do again. You begin to think, “God has probably ‘had it’ with me this time.” Your initial temptation after your failure is to distance yourself further from God. However, you turn back to look at Him (this is usually done through His Word), and you find (somewhat disconcertingly) that He is smiling at you with open arms, welcoming you back. Joseph’s actions toward his brothers in Genesis 45 do a great job of giving us a little taste of how God postures Himself toward us when we have wronged Him. Do not be dismayed at His kindness. Run to Him; He does not cast out.