“He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” Psalm 103:3
“I used to believe in God when I was little,” the man in the airplane seat next to me said, “but as I grew older and saw the mess this world is in, I changed my mind. IF there is a God, and IF he’s good, then t
here wouldn’t be so much sickness and war.”
Even those of us ‘Christians’ can get sucked into questioning whether God is really good or not. Especially when we watch our homes being destroyed, or get a bad doctor’s report, or lose our jobs, stand beside the grave of a loved one who ‘died too soon’, or are served divorce papers.
Forgiveness is one of those areas in which it’s easy to forget Gods’ goodness. When we play the comparison game and see our own weakness it’s easy to think God won’t forgive me because I’ve let him down too many times. When we look at our own sin, more than God’s grace, we can live in defeat emotionally and physically.
The good news is that God’s goodness isn’t dependent on circumstances or our own behavior. God’s goodness is dependent solely on his character. God is good because God is good, not because of anything we’ve done.
Psalm 103:3 is a great reminder of that. The psalmist writes “He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.” He doesn’t just forgive some of those sins. He doesn’t wait to see if we really mean it when we confess. He doesn’t have a score card. He forgives because he is good!
Don’t allow the mistakes of your past keep you from experiencing God’s goodness. You can never out-sin God’s grace. His forgiveness is like a healing balm for the pain of your failure.
God is good because he good. His goodness is shown through forgiveness.
PRAYER: Father God, I thank you today for your goodness even in light of my failures. Forgive me for the times I doubt your way is best and choose my own way. Empower me with your Spirit to live in the victory your grace can give. Amen.
Built with Grace 
3 comments
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January 25, 2016 at 6:06 pm
Deborah Ann
Amen and Amen . . . soaking in all His goodness no matter what comes my way 🙂
January 25, 2016 at 8:31 pm
marthajaneorlando
“When we play the comparison game and see our own weakness it’s easy to think God won’t forgive me because I’ve let him down too many times.”
Oh, the lies that Satan throws out to us, trying his best to change our course, determined to gain us for his own.
Mike, I’ve seen several posts today from other Christian bloggers that point to this evil of the comparison game. It is coveting, is it not? God tells us not to, but sometimes I think it is the most alluring and deceitful of sins. Not to say that all sins, large and small, are always “missing the mark.” But this one seems to rear its ugly head and demand addressing.
Sorry I went on so long here, but a chord has been struck after yours was the fourth Christian blog I read today that dealt with this subject.
Blessings!
January 25, 2016 at 9:01 pm
Mike Fisk
The comparison game is so crippling to be sure. As a pastor I’m always in danger of focusing on numbers rather than spiritual growth. Thanks for sharing Martha. B Blessed! 🙂