O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 For your arrows have pierced me, and your hand has come down upon me. 3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body; my bones have no soundness because of my sin. 4 My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. 5 My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly. 6 I am bowed down and brought very low; all day long I go about mourning. 7 My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. 8 I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. 9 All my longings lie open before you, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from you. 10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me; even the light has gone from my eyes. 11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away.

This sounds strikingly familiar to the plight and pleas of Job when he had lost all and was listening to his “friends” accuse him of wrong doing. The difference is that Job was contending his innocence while the Psalmist is admitting his guilt. There is nothing that will get us down and even make us literally sick quicker than a guilty conscience. While many would offer a variety of remedies for this, there is only one remedy that God gives us. That one remedy is that we turn from our sin and confess it to God. He has promised his children that he will hear us and forgive us. God always keeps his word. So, we can know we have forgiveness.

Yet, too often we live for years with this guilt hanging over us. This is not because we have not been forgiven. It is because we don’t have enough faith to accept God’s forgiveness or we just do not forgive ourselves. When God has forgiven us, who are we to not forgive ourselves. We cannot change our past – no matter how much we may wish we could – but we can accept God’s forgiveness and go on with our lives with a totally clear conscience. This is not minimizing what we have done. In fact, it often is a reminder to never do it again and even serves as an encouragement to keep us trying to do what is right. This past sin (no matter what or how bad it was – or is) can actually serve to be one of the best things that ever happened to us. The sin is not good and neither is it good that we gave in but the end result can be good. It is God who said that he will work all things together for our good.

God, please forgive me when I sin and increase my faith so that I will accept you forgiveness. Give me the peace of mind that only you can give. Use me to share the good news of Jesus our savior with those around me. Help me to be an encouragement to those who are struggling. In Jesus name.

May God bless each of us as we accept his forgiveness today.