I Want Mercy and the Knowledge of God More Than I Want Burnt Offerings

At what point can we truly reflect on our past experiences and say, you know what, we did not bring me closer to God or join happiness? It's a whole point of repentance. Repentance is just another way of saying learning. And again, unless there's change, learning has not happened. Now you can try to return to the Lord by the outward things that you do. You can go through the motions. You can check the boxes. But actually be completely unchanged because you're not down at the core level of connecting with the Lord.