The clock’s glowing red numbers mocked me as I lay awake, spiraling again into the black hole of self-condemnation. I edged away from my husband so I wouldn’t wake him with my sobs. Flashbacks of my failures came in rapid-fire succession. Reminders of my sins and mistakes hurled themselves at me.
All the while, the horrible scourge scene from “The Passion of the Christ” flashed through my mind. I saw Jesus struggling to stand but knocked to the ground with blow after bloody blow. I felt as though that were me, trying to hold onto truth yet unable to stand beneath Satan’s whip of accusation. Eventually, I fell into a fitful sleep.
The morning light brought a new realization. It wasn’t me at all—it was Christ! As I lay in bed reliving all my shortcomings, sins, and regrets, as Satan hurled every condemnation at me, Jesus took them upon Himself. Every. Last. One. According to Isaiah 53, Jesus went to the cross for those very sins and sorrows.
As imperfect people, we fail. We sin against God and hurt people. What can we do with all those regrets? We can bring them to the cross and see Jesus pay the penalty. And then we can choose to believe His sacrifice on our behalf is enough.
Every time we heap guilt upon ourselves for sins that have been forgiven, we spurn the grace of God. We essentially say Christ’s sacrifice wasn’t enough. The truth is: His grace is more than enough! By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are daily being transformed into the image of Christ. But we are still in process. We stumble and fall. Even so, we can rest in His grace. Nothing more. Nothing less. Just His perfectly sufficient grace.
4 comments
Need I say it again? We are kindred spirits. Thank you for these true words about the grace of our Mighty God. His grace is much greater than all our sin.
That is why we will cast our crowns at His feet one day and I shake my head in wonder even now!
To God be the glory!!
Yes, Nikki! Even when I don’t acknowledge it, He never wavers in His love and grace!
This was me the other night, tossing and turning, burdened by the accusations of the Enemy.
But it is so true: His grace is more than enough. Thank you for sharing and reminding us of this truth! It’s so encouraging to be reminded that we are not alone.
Hi Kristin! You are definitely not alone! Satan, the accuser, is always looking to shame us into hiding ourselves from God. (Isn’t that how it all began?!) But He is always, always, always extending grace for our failures. We are in this together♥️!