Today’s Devotional Thought:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12, CSB)
I’m given over to anxiety about myself. I don’t just mean I have a few blue days; I mean that I get very anxious or upset about myself quite often. For example, one issue I’ve often struggle with is sleeping. My insomnia was so bad last year that I had to go talk to a doctor. I’m pretty good at making up my own guilt and shame to condemn myself; I’m a master craftsman of negative thoughts.
This verse has always been one of my greatest comforts in life. In fact, it’s a verse that I encourage anyone struggling with self-esteem, anxiety, or depression to memorize. Especially when we are alone in isolation, our greatest fears are not just about what we think of ourselves. What does God think of me?
Here’s the Gospel hope for you today: God is overtly gracious to those who turn to Him for forgiveness. If you’ve read this psalm before, have you ever pondered how great this image is? You can’t measure directional indicators: East and west will never touch. They are infinitely apart from each other. God’s promise doesn’t stop there: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him” (v.13). Here’s the dual promise of placing your trust in Jesus Christ alone as your Lord and Savior. You are not only forgiven of your sin; you are brought into God’s family.
The Father loves you infinitely more than you love yourself. And for those of you struggling with self-esteem, you can immediately understand what great relief that brings you. He doesn’t love you based on your performance. He loves you before creation itself existed. One of my favorite theologians, named Geerhardus Vos, once said, “The best proof that God will never cease to love us lies in that he never began.”
Your heart might be condemning you today, building anxieties and worries in your life. God the Father wants us to cry out to him in our need. His mercy, his grace, his love for us is greater than any condemnation we can create within our hearts.
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God's grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin!
Ways to Pray:
Adoration: Father, we can cry out to you in any hour with every anxiety because you care for us deeply. You cast out sins beyond what our minds can even apprehend. You are our loving Father who has always loved us from the foundation of the world
Confession: My heart often condemns myself, my actions, or my thoughts. I often want to stay in my own misery for people to feel sorry for me.
Thanksgiving: Thank you that you never turn us away, that you never condemn those who find their identity in their Savior, Jesus.
Monday through Friday: Written by Pastor Stern
Saturday and Sunday: Written by Jonathan Hatt
Monday through Friday: Written by Pastor Stern
Saturday and Sunday: Written by Jonathan Hatt