You might buy into the fact that you are loved.
You might even begin to see that you are liked.
You might even, just for a minute or two think, “Sure, I can put a couple of great days back to back, and I’m not so bad.”
But then, it happens. You have one of those no good, awful, horrible bad days. And you blow it.
You yell at your kids.
You lie to a friend.
You speak hurtfulness to your spouse.
You judge.
Or worse.
And in the midst of it, you are shocked. Embarrassed. Angry.
You don’t like you right now.
You’d send yourself to your room if you could, but you have to cook dinner.
So you withdraw and hide in your own heart, and hope and pray no one notices.
But, He does. And while you are swimming in the sea of your own guilt and shame, Jesus is tenderly calling out to you, ” I want you to know, I think of you as already forgiven.” And somewhere in the middle of washing dishes you begin to believe it. And then, He smiles, and stretches out His arms, and says, “I’ve removed it as far as the East is to the West. It is gone. I carried away. So there would not be anything between us.”
It overwhelms and tears drop into your soapy water and right there, in your kitchen on Oak Street, you run into His arms.
Is it like that for you?
It can be.
He wants you to know your sin is not greater than His power of forgiveness. You could try to measure it, but East to West will get you every time.
Psalm 103:12He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.:::::
This is me, more often than I would care to admit. I say things, that I regret later. Or I yell at my kids. Or I dishonor my husband. But it’s hard for me to admit when I’ve gone wrong, as the enmey is already there whispering in my ear telling me how horrible I’ve been.
Thank you for reminding me that Has cast all my wrong doing as far as the East is from the West.
I love waking up and reading your sweet comments Barbie! Makes my morning!
I think the enemy likes to keep us trapped in guilt, hiding (“Grace for the Good Girl” has much to say here). Oh that we would live free and forgiven! That is my prayer.
And I love coming here and helping you smile! Oh and “Grace for the Good Girl” — it’s changing my life!
To know that we are loved. It is a gift like no other. Yet I know I still struggle to recognize it and settle into it. Thanks for the visual reminder to see God’s love for me, in the midst of real life!
Sometimes (ok, a lot of times) it is so hard for my human mind to understand this truth. How could someone forgive my EVERY sin, even before the asking is barely out of my mouth. I mean, who else does that…oh right, no one. Only my Jesus. And although I know it to be true, I need often reminders of how truly unique His forgiveness is, so thank you, Stacey for the reminder today.
Only my Jesus! Yes, only my Jesus forgives and removes our every sin!
Not sure if you want daily comments about how much your 31 days is speaking to me, but then I thought “who doesn’t like comments!?!” Anyway, thanks so much for reminding me of things I often forget. Many blessings to you!
I love each and every one Megan! This message is speaking to me, too!
“East to West gets you every time.” I love that! And thank God’s it’s the truth! 🙂
Oh, I love this Stacey! I used to sing that verse to myself often. I think I need to bring it back.
Thanks so much for this comforting reminder.
Love the picture of how the day goes, how we withdraw, and how the teardrops fall into our soapy dishwater. But it is still hard to grasp His love and forgiveness and deliverance when life wears us down. Thank you for the reminder.
Janis
Thanks Jamie!
So good, Stacey. I love when you said, “You’d send yourself to your room if you could, but you have to cook dinner.” Classic. You are a blessing, friend.
So many times I know I need to be sent to my room. And sometimes I wish I could go! 🙂
Thanks friend for stopping by!
so glad i could pop back in…were your ears ringing? i was singing your praises and saying how i hope we get to talk lots more at Relevant about some dreams:} with my blog mentee that Sus matched me up with…
well, yes, this is a WONDERFUL series. I haven’t gotten to read every post, but the ones I have read have been fabulous and this east to west, Psalm 103 was my launching point for His heart…oh, how He loves!
Abby I am so looking forward to seeing you at Relevant! What a gift to be able to both be there and see what God wants to do through us and our blogs! Can’t wait!
I don’t even have any words honestly except that I needed this right now in this moment.
He really has perfect timing – always!