Psalm 103:1-13
Bless the LORD, O my soul. All that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
who pardons all your guilt, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with mercy and compassion,
who satisfies your life with goodness, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
The LORD performs righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.
He will not always accuse. He will not keep his anger forever.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve. He does not repay us according to our guilty deeds.
Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth, so powerful is his mercy toward those who fear him.
As distant as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our rebellious acts from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear
him. (EHV)
It’s a rotten feeling, that moment when I retreat to my room and hear that haunting voice in my head, “You can’t take it back.” When I’ve lost my temper with someone in my family, let the anger and hurt fly, and said things I wish I had never said. And I can’t take it back.
I try to reason with myself – it wasn’t really my fault! They were just being so difficult! Their bad behavior just brought it out of me! And after all, I’m only human. I’m under so much stress. How much can I be expected to take? I have to be allowed to vent once in a while, right?
But that doesn’t seem right, especially when I hear my raised voice echoing in my own ears and I remember the look on their faces. I feel ashamed of myself. I feel like a child who just threw a tantrum. “You can’t take it back.”
I can’t take it back. But I can take it to the cross. Psalm 103 leads me steadily into the arms of the God who forgives, the God who sent his Son to die to take away my guilt. My bad behavior is nailed to the cross, and its price and guilt are paid. I can’t take it back, but I can give it to him and see it taken away forever.
My God forgives me. And that can give me enough courage to go back to my family and say, “I’m sorry. I lost my temper. I was out of line. Please forgive me.” And whether they do or not – and I hope they do – I can be sure that in the end, I’m forgiven by the God of the universe. No one matters more than he. And as long as I’m forgiven by him and remember I have him at my side, I can face the stress and the negative behaviors, and ultimately anything else in this life.
Thank you, God, for the forgiveness you have given me. For these times I have failed to live up to your expectations, cleanse me and teach me to bring those sins again and again to the cross.
Lead my family to be gracious to me, and through their forgiveness help me learn a little better what it means that I am forgiven by you. Amen.
by Brandon Steenbock