When I was 16 I was dying to get a tattoo. I made up a rule for myself: Pick a tattoo and if I still want it six months down the road then I’ll get it. So that’s what I did.

What did I get? A Bible verse. I thought it was a good, safe choice. I grew up Christian, love God, and my mom probably wouldn’t mind signing off on something like that versus a playboy bunny or the like.

“But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭71:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Hope Always. Psalms 71:14” cute right? Inspirational even.

Fast forward 11 years. I still love my tattoo. The difference is it has more meaning to me now.

When I got the tattoo at 16, I was not going to church, not reading my Bible, and not doing anything to strengthen my faith. I guess you could say I had strayed away from the right path. It almost feels like I was a fraud.

In the past year, I have rejoined the path for Jesus. I am baptized, plugged into a local church, and living my life for God.

Every day I am thankful that I was brought back to live a life honoring God every day. So it only made sense to dig into this verse that I got inked to really understand it.

I encourage you to read Psalms chapters 71. It has some great stuff in it.

God doesn’t hold grudges. He loves all of us endlessly.