From Frustration to Forgiveness
This morning started off on the wrong foot and my frustration mounted as the day progressed. It was one of those “if anything can go wrong it will go wrong” chain of events. A spousal disagreement, an unfinished work agenda and everything between produced a downward spiral in my attitude. The residual effects of my antagonistic kickoff remained with me until nightfall.
In reflecting on the previous twelve hours, I explored the seeds of my frustration. What were the driving forces behind my negativity? Honest consideration revealed the seeds that bloomed into a rotten tree.
Ready to boil over at the slightest opposition, volatile anger and resentment simmered just below the surface. Attempts to control my circumstances were woefully unsuccessful. Pride crept in and whispered lies into my believing ears. With a thorough review of the day’s events, the list of sinful thought patterns grew exponentially. Sinful thinking had tarnished my heart and chipped away at various relationships. My anxiety had carried me away to a dark and lonely place.
The scenario above bears some striking similarities to what David describes in Psalm 32:3-4:
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
A grim picture, yes. But this is not the end of his story. In the next verse David tells us,
Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”–and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
God not only forgave David’s sin, He forgave the guilt of his sin. At first It may not seem like there is a difference, but let’s take a look at the definitions. Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines sin as follows:
Transgression of the law of God; disobedience of the divine command; any violation of God’s will, either in purpose or conduct; moral deficiency in the character; iniquity; as, sins of omission and sins of commission.
Now let’s take a look at Webster’s definition of guilt:
The criminality and consequent exposure to punishment resulting from willful disobedience of law, or from morally wrong action; the state of one who has broken a moral or political law; crime; criminality; offense against right. Exposure to any legal penalty or forfeiture.
Simply put, sin is breaking God’s law. But here we see guilt defined as the punishment resulting from sin, the punishment being our broken relationship with God. When we receive God’s forgiveness, He restores our relationship with Him as if we had never sinned.
I need His forgiveness every day, but today my awareness is heightened. I am glad for the reminder of what God’s forgiveness really is. It isn’t like when we were kids and said, “Please forgive me,” because our parents forced us to do it. He does not say He forgives and then continue to hold a grudge against us for what we did. Instead, He erases our debt and restores our right standing with Him.
