No trouble believing that this grace is for YOU …

Yesterday, I was blessed to spend time with a precious, real, friend. (“Real” in that, she is seeing more and more of the ugliness of my heart and life—and not pulling back, not rejecting me. Isn’t that a real friend?)

As we closed our time together, I was struggling a bit with shame and embarrassment over some past sins that continue to haunt me. (When I think about them, I cringe. When I think about some of the ramifications, I lower my eyes and want to hide my face in shame.)

And my friend comforted me with only a few words, as she reminded me of some of the struggles and sins in her own life. Struggles and sins, by the way, that I have absolutely no problem believing that SHE is TRULY forgiven for. When I look at her? I don’t see those sins. I don’t even think about them.

She is not her past sins. They are forgiven! Covered. It’s like it doesn’t even register on my heart that these sins are in her past because I truly know that God’s grace is sufficient for them.

Ahhh! But therein lies the rub, eh? For, at times, I fail to appropriate, to believe, to have the hope and assurance that MY sins are similarly covered. Forgiven.

I woke up this morning grateful (for God’s mercy) AND convicted of my unbelief. (For who am I to doubt God’s Word? To doubt God’s promises? To somehow think that my sins are so special and so huge that God’s grace is not sufficient?)

“Come, let us talk this over, says the Lord; no matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can take it out and make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you white as wool.” Isaiah 1:18

My only hope.
 My only hope.

And the reason I am heading into my day today, not despairing, but grateful.
For the Lamb Who was slain, Who takes away the sins of the world.

(And for friends who remind me of Truth when I am sorely tempted to forget.)

Blessings on your Friday, dear ones!

Yours,
Tara B.