Indescribable Forgiveness

Annie

Scriptures: 1 John 1 Psalm 130 Luke 15: 17-24

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

As the light faded and darkness closed in, those angry, harsh words reverberated in his brain. Why? Why had he lost his temper over such an insignificant, ridiculous incident?

Weariness swept over him, the unrelenting events of the day had left him physically and emotionally drained, yet this was no excuse, no justification for exploding the way he had. To many, his actions would not have been as hurtful as he felt they were; a casual observer may not have even discerned that the altercation had taken place. But he knew, and his heart ached for what he had done.

He got to his feet and made his way to his father’s room. The body in the bed appeared to be asleep, but he knew that his father was awake, sleep didn’t come easily to his dad since the day, barely a week ago, when his mother had passed away. Quietly, in a voice broken by the tears that had begun trickling down his face, he spoke. “Dad, I know you can hear me. I just need you to know that I am sorry for being angry, for blaming you for something that just doesn’t, and didn’t then, matter. I am sorry, Dad.” He waited, but the body didn’t move, so, with head bowed, he made his way back to his room.

That night, the young man cried out to God in a way he had never done before. Tears did indeed soak his pillow as he confessed to his Father God how he knew that his father was suffering, the grief that consumed his dad was naked in its raw outpouring. He laid bare his remorse, his anguish, his knowledge that he didn’t deserve the forgiveness he sought, from both his earthly father and his heavenly Father God.

At last, sleep overtook him, fitful, dream laden sleep. When the dawn began to break, he turned to watch through the open window as the masterpiece of colours and patterns filled the sky. With a peace that was totally overwhelming, he spoke out loud the words of Jesus, his Saviour and Lord, “Fear not, for I AM with you”. The cocoon of forgiveness and love that he felt wrapped in, brought more tears, but not the bitter tears of the night, these were the joyful tears of the morning. The depth of his repentance mirrored the depth of his love and longing to know his Father God in every facet of his life. Not just when he could praise and sing when all was well, but with worship and adoration when storms raged in his heart and all around him.

Walking into the kitchen, he kept the words of Christ foremost in his mind, “Fear not”. If his father could not yet forgive him, the young man knew that God was with them both, and true Shalom would be theirs at the right time. Then, without a word, his dad turned, walked across the room and hugged his son as if he would never let him go.

Out of the pit of despair, our Father God always hears our cries. As we take His Hand, allow Him into our remorse, sadness, shame for our darkest, vilest deeds, He will never reject us, never pull His Hand away. No matter how we feel, how our emotions are tossed about by circumstance and events, our God is ever faithful, ever true, ever listening and ever longing for us to reach out to Him.

God yearns for us to get to know Him so deeply that we see with blinding clarity that NOTHING can separate us from Him, nothing can stop the flow of His Love and Mercy to all who come to Him in true repentance. Confessing our sins to our loving Abba Father is not an onerous duty, but a precious time of opening our hearts to the One who knows us so intimately. And, as we do, we grow in our knowing of Him, our One True God, our Eternal Father.

Prayer: Abba Father, grant us the obedience to see that in running back to You in repentance, with open hearts and overflowing words, we will always know the assurance of Your loving arms wrapped around us in utter forgiveness. Whatever may be around the next corner of our pathway, open our hearts so that we will always allow You to walk with us. In Jesus Name, we pray, Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QCcwgb817s&ab_channel=KeithandKristynGetty