Why God Rejoices Over One Person’s Repentance

Now that I am in my sixties, many people around me are retiring and worrying about how to prepare for their later years. Yet I feel as though I am living in the happiest season of my life. At times, I find myself reflecting, I never knew life could be this joyful. I never imagined days like these would come. When I look back on the days when I used to feel discouraged, telling myself, “That’s just how life is,” I can hardly believe the change within me.

In my younger years, I lived without much hardship, but everything changed in my forties. I went through trials so overwhelming that I felt like letting go of everything. Those were days filled with hardship. No matter how desperately I worked, I could see no light ahead. I passed through what felt like a dark tunnel, barely remembering how I endured it. By the time I finally overcame the problems before me, about fifteen years had passed.

When the tension finally eased, an emptiness settled deep within me. I spent time with friends, seeking enjoyment, and even traveled quietly on my own, yet nothing truly filled that void. Because of my quick temper, I found myself in trouble more than once. Life did not unfold the way I had hoped, and I felt lost, unsure of how to go on living.

Who would have thought that I would find the answer to the greatest question of my life at a neighborhood hair salon? The owner of the salon I often visited was a member of the Church of God. I had never been interested in religion, and whenever I heard negative news about churches, I would shake my head in disapproval. So when she suggested that I listen to the teachings of the Bible, I firmly declined. I thought all churches were more or less the same. But after I had turned her down several times, something unexpected happened. Without even realizing it, I found myself responding to the words of the Bible she shared and joining in the conversation. At the time, I was surprised by my own reaction. Looking back now, however, I believe it was because I am a child of our Heavenly Father and Mother, and I was hearing Their voice.

The first time I went to church was to visit the "Our Mother" Writing and Photo Exhibition. Although I still felt a sense of hesitation, I found myself drawn to the word “Mother.” The stories in the exhibition were simple and familiar, yet I could not hold back my tears. As memories of my difficult past passed before me, one after another like unfolding scenes, my heart grew warm—as though I were being comforted in a mother’s gentle embrace.

After the exhibition, I opened the Bible and examined it carefully for the first time. As I read about God creating the heavens and the earth and all things—and the evidence that supports it—I was honestly shocked. I had always thought of God as a man-made idea and that the Bible as merely a book written by human beings. I could no longer deny my own ignorance. The teaching that God exists, and that He is our Heavenly Father and Mother who gave birth to our souls, felt completely right and reasonable. At the same time, a deep desire arose within me to find comfort and strength in Their loving embrace. Without hesitation, I received the blessing of new life. It was the moment my new life began.

For someone who had once been far from faith, even attending church felt unfamiliar, and at the same time, surprising. After my first Sabbath worship, I noticed members gathered in small groups, studying the Bible together. I wondered why they were so devoted to it. As I began to study, I came to understand. Though much of it was difficult to grasp at first, it contained the message of salvation that God had given to His children. Since I had come to faith later than others, I felt that following blindly would be meaningless. I realized that I needed to truly understand God’s will.

I set aside a portion of the Bible to read each day and studied it on my own at home. On my way to work, I listened to sermons in the car. The words that once felt unfamiliar and difficult gradually began to settle in my mind and take root in my heart as I listened again and again. I was in awe of the truth that reveals God’s existence through world history and the order of all things. As I saw God’s prophecies being fulfilled one by one with such precision, a deep sense of clarity filled my heart. Then came the moment when I clearly realized that Heavenly Father and Mother are the true Parents of my soul. At that realization, a chill ran through my entire body. I was overwhelmed with shame, thinking of how They had come to this earth and endured all kinds of suffering for me. Without even being aware of it, I had lived arrogantly, full of myself, turning away from my Heavenly Parents.

When I kept the Passover—the festival in which we eat and drink Jesus’ flesh and blood as written in the Bible—my heart was overwhelmed. As I began to understand the deep and earnest love of Father and Mother, who longed for Their children to repent and receive salvation, a strong desire arose within me to respond. I wanted to fully understand the truth of the Bible, just like the other members, and to share it confidently with others. I even hoped to speak the verses fluently, just as they did. At times, however, my resolve wavered because my body and mind could not keep up with my eagerness. Yet whenever that happened, I regained strength through timely sermons that gave me courage and through studying with those who were ahead of me in faith. Through these moments, I was able to steady my heart and continue forward.

Around that time, I went out to preach with a deaconess. It was an opportunity to put into practice what I had prepared. Yet when the moment came, I could not say a single word. I simply followed behind her. I felt frustrated with myself for lacking courage. I said to myself, “At my age, what is there to fear? If I rely on God, I can do it.” With that resolve, I went out to preach on my own. The first step was the hardest. But after trying once, then twice, I realized that anyone could do it if they have the heart. It filled me with joy and a deep sense of fulfillment. How grateful and happy I was to be able to share the truth with others. At the same time, I began to understand—even if only a little—the hardships that Father and Mother must have endured while preaching alone for so many years. When I think of how They not only shed Their own blood to forgive our sins, but also went from place to place seeking Their children who had yet to understand, I cannot help but feel deeply ashamed.

As I came to understand the meaning and value of the gospel, my character also began to change. In the past, I was hot-tempered, rigid, and stubborn. Because of this, I often kept people at a distance. Whenever something did not meet my standards, I would argue without hesitation. At first, I wondered whether I would be able to adapt to life in Zion. Yet those concerns soon faded. Surrounded by brothers and sisters who always welcomed me with warm smiles and sincere care, I gradually found myself changing. Seeing in them the image of Heavenly Father and Mother, I came to regard them as examples to follow. Though I had never known how to open my heart to others, I found myself feeling at ease simply being among them.

At the end of last year, a New Member Welcome Event was held, and I received heartfelt congratulations from the members. It was my first time experiencing such warm hospitality. Though I felt a little shy, I was filled with joy, as if I had been given wings. Above all, I was deeply grateful. It felt as though I had been reassured that I truly belonged among my brothers and sisters within the loving embrace of Father and Mother.

At times, I am amazed at how much I have changed in such a short period. There are even moments when I find myself smiling, feeling as though Heavenly Father and Mother are always with me. Most of all, after keeping the festivals, I feel a quiet sense of confidence. In the past, I often felt anxious as though I were falling behind in the race of life. I even envied friends who seemed successful and well-established. But now, those thoughts no longer trouble me. Having found the most certain and meaningful purpose in life, I am living each day with gratitude and joy.

Though I feel unworthy because of the many sins I have committed both in heaven and on this earth, my life has become truly happy since coming to God. Perhaps that is why God so earnestly longs for the repentance of sinners. He does not even consider the hardships He endures, as long as even one child returns. When I think of the blessings I receive from our Heavenly Father and Mother, I cannot keep this happiness to myself. With a grateful heart, I will take part in the work of leading many souls to repentance. For this is what brings the greatest joy to our Heavenly Father and Mother, and it is the only way I can repay the grace I have received.