Can you imagine what it would be like to have received a prison sentence of life without parole? Knowledge that all your freedoms for the remainder of life have evaporated would create desperation in the spirit. With living space confined, in addition to every imaginable choice, prisoners may not discuss the inner reflection upon the choices that brought them to that place, yet it is certain that every prisoner punishes themselves for the faulty choices.
Isn’t it amazing that we serve a God of forgiveness, who is willing to give each of us a fresh start every day? While we may still have to deal with the ramifications of our sin, God removes those sins as far as the east is from the west, when we come to Him in repentance.
22Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Though God has given us the great gift of His grace, which is receiving something we don’t deserve, He also fills us with His mercy. Mercy is not getting something you deserve. All we deserve is death, yet God in His mercy, gives us abundant life on this earth, as well as eternal life with Him! According to Lamentations, that mercy occurs on a daily basis. Most of us can think of someone in our lives who has committed suicide. Certainly, suicide is an act of desperation, when life is not working out with our hopes and dreams. Yet in God’s eyes, each day can be a fresh start. Though the night may be filled with weeping, wailing and mourning, when the sun arises each morning, it sheds a new light on it all.
Is it any wonder that dawn is often the most beautiful time of the day? God’s tender heart hears our cries. In fact, he collects our tears, for His safe keeping!
You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book?
Psalm 56:8
Certainly, there are painful issues in each of our lives and some of the most difficult journeys in our pasts we never will forget. Yet the tears that seemed endless at the time fade into a distant memory. God never forgets. He keeps all of our pains near and dear to His heart. God’s heart is tender and His mercies are tender, too!
Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live;
For Your law is my delight.
Psalm 119:177
Depth of depravity and level of sin has no impact on the tender mercies of our Lord, who is willing and able to forgive if we are willing to repent. Even a serial killer in prison may come to know God’s tender mercies! Those who come to the Lord can still walk in the freedom of forgiveness, though they will remain in prison as a result of their murderous pasts. Prison with the Lord is much better than freedom without Him!
Are you exhausted from carrying a burden that is too heavy for your shoulders? Lay that burden down at the foot of the cross and let Jesus carry it for you! Each morning when the sun arises, remember that His mercies are fresh and new each day! Walk in His light and walk in His freedom!
1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever;
With my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations.
2 For I have said, “Mercy shall be built up forever;
Your faithfulness You shall establish in the very heavens.”
Psalm 89:1-2
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