Do not reject me! Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!
Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance! Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey!
Psalm 51:11-12 NET
Oh, David. God is not finished with you yet.
So many people share the same fears David has in these verses. They believe their sin too great and they can’t see God ever using them again. They think they’ve spoiled their life, now the only usefulness they may have is Exhibit A of what not to do. But, God is a Great Renewer of lives. He doesn’t just forgive. He takes the life they think ruined and turns it into a beautiful story of redemption and healing.
“Rescue me from the guilt of murder, O God, the God who delivers me! Then my tongue will shout for joy because of your deliverance. O Lord, give me the words! Then my mouth will praise you.”
Psalms 51:14-15 NET
How does this come about, this rescue from guilt? It may be that we must accept that we have been delivered. Often, we believe in our heads that God forgives, but our hearts fail to get the message. We become paralyzed in our shame, unable to function as anything more than GUILTY. We seem to miss the words in the scriptures like redeemed and set free, thinking they are for other people.
The beginning of deliverance is claiming it, talking about it, putting words to what God has done. It’s liberating. This is not about an announcing our sin to the world. It is about giving God credit for the work in our lives.
We need to share God’s story in our lives. Why is it so important? David’s reason was to teach rebels God’s merciful ways, so sinners would turn to Him [Ps. 51:13]. He was not going to let this costly lesson to go unused. David’s restoration was going to be linked to his willingness to tell others about what God had done. His experience was not only going to strengthen him as a man, it would also strengthen a nation.
It is empowering to us as well. We will not see ourselves through the lens of guilt, but through the words of a beautiful tale of grace. Our friends and family will also be influenced too, through the accounts of God’s work in our lives. They will see His goodness played out right before their eyes if we allow it. Please don’t let shame and guilt keep you from stepping forward. Open your lips and praise God!
I sought the LORD’s help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him for help are happy; their faces are not ashamed.
Psalm 34:4-5
Yes indeed…I’ve experienced that beautiful tale of grace…(I love that line) how true. God’s grace is abundant if we will accept it and surrender all to him. I lived with shame and guilt, many years…until I came to the end of me…Oh what joy and peace and restoration He gives when we turn from sin and follow Him! There is nothing greater! Thank you for this wonderful, uplifting post! Joy unspeakable and full of glory…Yes, redeemed!
I love this, “God is not finished with you yet.” That is the story of my life, of all of our lives. When we think we’ve failed, many times we see it as the end. Yet most often, God uses that failure as a stepping stone to bring us to the next level. That failure that we thought disqualified us, can actually bring us in the very direction we desired all along! Thanks for this reminder Patty!
Love this! “We seem to miss the words in the scriptures like redeemed and set free, thinking they are for other people.” Such truth.
Thank you for linking up at Woman to Woman’s Word Filled Wednesday!
I cling to Phil 1:6 – He who began a good work is faithful to complete it. Even when it looks like we’re crumpled in a heap because of adversity, sin or loss, we can trust that He is still keeping His promise to never give up on us and always move us toward completion.
There are so many good words to be found in the pages of the Bible. Thank you for sharing yours.
I enjoyed your post, Patty. I love taking one verse at a time and pondering it.
Great post!
I loved this part: “He doesn’t just forgive. He takes the life they think ruined and turns it into a beautiful story of redemption and healing.” And shame on those who say they forgive yet balk at restoring those who have failed. Redemption also means restoration.
Thanks for sharing at The Loft!
thanks, jerralea
I like how you said, “How does this come about, this rescue from guilt? It may be that we must accept that we have been delivered.” So true. We must believe what God says about us to fully experience it.
Patty, I love, love, love this post!! My husband told me recently that one of my signature sayings is that ‘God never wastes a trial’. In fact, I wrote that into my post from Friday. It is true, I do say it a lot because I believe it to the very core of my being. I’ve seen it happen in my own life. You wrote so much truth here that Christians need to really understand. We have no need to walk around under the burden of shame because Jesus has taken that shame and nailed it to the cross. Praise Him. Thank you for linking up such an insightful post at The Loft.
Thank you, Leah. I love that “God never wastes a trial.” That may become a new piece of the arsenal as I encourage women to live their lives with all God has for them. Thank you for having a space to share what God has given us. I have enjoyed reading many of the other writers found at The Loft.