It sure doesn’t look encouraging. The winds are howling. The dark clouds are swirling. The lightning is flashing and the thunder is rolling. You look up and it’s dark – very dark. You look out and the waves are foaming with rage. You look around, and the trees are bending south from the north-wind gale, and the debris is flying past you. You look down, and the water is moving up as you sink deeper in the quicksand of affliction.

Things aren’t good, and you see no way out of this one. You’ve had trials before, but this one is deeper and darker than anything you have yet experienced in life. You try to quieten your spirit by directing your mind to other things, but it stubbornly races back to the troubled scene. You try to muster up the courage to be one of those good Christians in the storms of life – one of those believers who smile through their scalding tears and actually encourage would-be comforters. But somehow, you just can’t get your act together.

You can’t find anything for which to be thankful; in fact, your worst fear is being played out – you are growing bitter in the trial. You read about Christians who grew better – not bitter during their trial, but the opposite is happening to you. You can’t even find anything in your Bible to lighten the load, to lift your spirit or to sweeten your thoughts. Everything has crumbled around you – as if a violent storm has picked you up and hurled you against the rocks and smashed you into very small pieces with extremely sharp edges.

If you are there today, will you think about two verses in Romans Chapter 4?

Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. Romans 4:7-8

The Apostle Paul was teaching the great truth of justification by faith alone in Christ. He explained that if we could earn a right standing with God by doing good works, then it would be a reward from God that He was obligated to give us – not a free and unmerited gift.

When Paul quoted those words from Psalm 32, he probably wasn’t specifically trying to encourage a distraught, depressed, discouraged, disillusioned and devastated believer like you. But even so – if you try rereading them just now, you may find some little thing to lift your spirits.

 What joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of sin.” Romans 4:7-8 NLT

Totally forgiven. Your sins – every single one of them, no longer seen by God’s all-seeing eyes. Gone. Out of His sight and out of His Mind and off His Books forever. Blessed in this life. Blessed forever.

In the darkness of your night, can you allow these two verses to seep into your heart today and be the glue that starts to bind your broken pieces together? Fall on your knees at the Cross today and, through your blinding tears, ask Him once again: “Why did You ever suffer and die for me?” Linger there. The answer you receive will be both soothing and healing. There is, in fact, still one reason at least to be joyful and thankful.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ,

Peter Ramsay

The Mariana Trench and the Forgiveness of Sins

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