Just like any relationship, somethings are special and meant just for the two of you. Somethings that happen between the Lord and I that stay just between us. This normally would have been one of those experiences, but after sharing it the other day in Bible study, I think it might need some space here as well. So, here it goes.

Monday morning I woke up with such a heavy feeling inside and my shoulders felt like they had huge weights on them. I sat in my normal chair to begin my “quiet time”. If you are new to the whole Christian code, this means time spent in reading your Bible, praying, journaling, reading devotionals and whatever else you and the Lord do together. I immediately got a picture in my mind and it was powerful! It was me sitting at the bottom of a dried up dark well, with stones piled on top of me. The stones filled the well to the top. I had my knees pulled to my chest and my head down. The stones represented every sin I have ever committed over the course of my life. Satan was leaning over the well, shouting down in a loud voice, “Pay what you owe”! I kept saying, “I can’t, I can’t”! When I thought this would go on forever, Jesus steps into the picture. He leans down and in the process, backhands satan in the mouth, which sends him flying backwards and he is silenced. Jesus then begins to remove each stone, one at a time. With each stone He says, “Forgiven”. He then reaches His hand down and distance doesn’t seem to matter. I take hold of His offered hand and He pulls me up. We then take the stones, that have been washed clean, and stack them into a memorial with the cross on the top. Memorials are good to have because they give you a visual reminder. If I ever doubt whether I am truly forgiven, one look at the cross says I am.

After the picture left my mind, the heaviness began to lift and so did the weight my shoulders felt. They did remain a bit sore though and for that I was thankful. I liked the reminder. We fool ourselves into thinking that sin is light or does not really matter. Besides, many argue that the Bible was written so long ago. How can it be relevant today? I can assure you, God takes sin just as seriously now as He did thousands of years ago. If this were not true, the cross that held His Son would not have been allowed to happen. Oh, how He loves us! Can you see that?

Maybe you know the feeling of being in a dark place and your past catches up with you. Maybe you wake up in the night and have a sense of heaviness. I wish I could take your sweet face in my hands like I often do with the kids and tell you that you are forgiven. The Bible says,“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9). It also says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9). Do not let the weight of your past keep you from the forgiveness that is waiting for you today.

*This picture is from today. These two kids are the best of friends. They have a special bond.