Psalms 86:5
⁵ You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you. (NIV)

Somewhere in the back of our minds, we know that we will never be perfect as Christ was perfect. Nevertheless, when what we have done hits us; when we realize how we have engorged ourselves in selfishness whether we have indulged too much in wine or our own anger, a deep sense of guilt takes root. Like Adam, we want to run and hide. We want to forget, but our sin remains ever before us. We feel like David who prayed, “Take not thy presence from me oh God.”

In the face of our sin, He is forgiving and good. Read that again slowly and let it permeate your guilt. He is forgiving. He is good. He is abounding in love. We are the prodigal returning in shame but He is the Father running in celebration with an embrace that refuses to let go.

On this side of the cross, our sin overwhelms and brings low our hearts. We agonize in our brokenness. The rain of sadness drenches us in its downpour. And we have no covering. But on the other side of the cross, the sun bursts through the dark clouds in forgiveness, goodness, and bright shining love. Oh God, you are more than a shelter from my self-disgust. You do more than bring me in from the rain. You calm the winds, command the storm to halt, and refresh me in the warmth of Your mercy.

And who is delivered from the torrent of guilt? It is those who call upon Him. Some might say, “But I have asked Him to forgive me…” The word ‘call’ here means ‘to accost.’ There is sin that cannot be easily removed from our minds and we must go after the Lord calling out to Him brazenly. We are sheepish at times asking for clemency from the Lord because we are so convinced of our guilt. But we need to be more convinced of our pardon through the blood of Jesus Christ. His forgiveness is already ours and we must take it like soldiers taking a city. It is not arrogance, but confidence in the One who gave His all that we might be forgiven.

Prayer: Lord, help me to overcome my self-condemnation. Remind me I am not God. I am not my own Judge. Remind me the Judge has already paid my debt and I have been set free. Amen.