Healed by the God of Life (Part 2)

READ: PSALM 103:1-12

Editor’s Note: Today’s reading addresses abortion.

When is the last time you were utterly broken by sin? The last time you felt so far away from God that the idea of prayer seemed laughable? The last time you felt so covered in sin that you were drowning in it? The last time you felt abandoned, alone, and unlovable?

We’ve all been there or will be there at some point. Maybe you are there right now. One of the many things that can bring us to this place of utter hopelessness is abortion. It feels like something has ended, like the door between us and God has been slammed shut, locked, and barricaded. Like we will never see Him again.

All sin does that. It builds an impenetrable wall between us and God. But Jesus gave His life to break down that wall of our well-earned despair, guilt, and shame. Because of His death and resurrection, that wall crumbles when it hears Him speak a single word. He pulls us to the other side, and He weeps with us over our sin. It breaks His heart, until we rely on His strength to repent and ask forgiveness.

Jesus loves us more than we will ever know. If we are recovering from an abortion (or any sin), He is walking this rough road with us. Jesus feels our pain, even when we feel like He is distant (Hebrews 4:14-16). He offers forgiveness to us (1 John 1:9–2:2). He is working to restore us. He has a plan for us. We are not alone.

Abortion isolates people in their shame, but Jesus reaches into that shame and isolation and draws us to Himself. Sin and death break us, but the God of Life will never stop healing us. • Taylor Eising

• When you feel far away from God, who are some Christians in your life you can talk to about it?

• When you ask God to forgive you, do you believe that He does? Why or why not?

In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:10 (NLT)