by Darcia Kunkel

But Not a Total Loss.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The Lord is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
Psalm 145:8, English Standard Version

On a recent icy Colorado morning, my daughter, and her car, slid off the road and ended up in someone’s front lawn. She was unhurt, but visibly shaken. First accidents can do that to a new teenage driver. She was lucky, but the old 2008 Corolla was not. Both rear quarter panels were smashed, and all four tires blown. The insurance company considered it a total loss.

Initially, she did not want to contact me, because she thought I would be angry and upset. The first thing I asked was, “Are you ok?”. I calmly went to meet her, called the insurance company, and got a tow truck. I then drove her to school, to resume normal activities, hoping to get her mind off of the mishap. Accidents happen.

Isn’t that how we often approach our God when we have sinned? Life is messy and busy. We often fall short, and mess up our own lives and those of others. We don’t want to go to God to confess our sins for fear of his wrath.

God reminds us in the Psalms that He is patient with us, and removes our sins from us. We continue to sin and turn away from the Lord, yet His forgiveness and compassion endures. The people of Israel continuously strayed from God’s word and plan. They followed idols and their own pleasures. Trouble often came to God’s people, but he always relented and gave them another chance through prophets, judges, and just leaders.

Lord, may I always remember that your thoughts are not my thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. No matter how far I may fall, you and your great mercies will always be there to catch me.

“as far as the east is from the west,
    so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12, English Standard Version

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado