Do you believe that God is disappointed in you?

After all, you have sinned–we all have! Maybe you yelled at your spouse or said something you regret to your kids. Maybe you have truly acted like a jerk.

I suggest that we all feel this way from time to time, and I would encourage you to meditate on this Bible verse: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love… He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8,10-12 NIV).

Now read this particular line again: “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities…” (Psalm 103:10 NIV)

Naturally it wasn’t right to yell at your spouse. Why not try an, “I am so sorry” and then work together with your spouse so that you can live in harmony? But this doesn’t change the fact that God cares, and He will never put you down. He does NOT treat us as our sins deserve!

Do you remember the Samaritan woman? When the Samaritan woman said to Jesus that she had no husband, Jesus didn’t humiliate her. Instead, Jesus said: “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (John 4:18 NIV)

Despite the fact that what Jesus said was completely true, He did not accuse her. And He doesn’t accuse you. There is an accuser: “Your great accuser, the Devil, is going about like a roaring lion to see whom he can devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8 WNT); but the accuser is NOT God. God loves you. He sent Jesus to die in order to SAVE you, not to accuse you: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17 KJV)!

An elderly man I knew lost his wife. He felt lonely and confused. A young woman came to his rescue, but unfortunately her motives were less than admirable. The family later discovered that this woman was trying to bleed the elderly man of what little money he had. Even so, the elderly man followed her around. There was no happiness, but at least he did not feel so lonely or confused.

So often we are like this elderly man. We seek happiness, but it eludes us. Meanwhile the accuser is there, and for some reason, we tend to listen to his voice and believe what he says. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Jesus forgives us. He will lead us to a place where we will feel truly happy. He is not at all like that woman who took advantage of that poor man. His actions towards each of us are motivated by love. He is pleased when we show love to others, but if we fail, He forgives us. After all, Jesus paid the price on the cross so that each of us can be completely forgiven.

When you sin or do stupid things, you will be forgiven, for Jesus has already paid the price. No human being can pay that price. Only Jesus. Our job is to trust in Him. When we accept Him into our hearts, He saves us for eternity: “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17 KJV). Remember these precious truths: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you a free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.” (Romans 8:1-3 NIV). Jesus forgave you more than 2000 years ago. He knows you, and you are forgiven!

Would you like to put your trust in Him today? Why not answer the Saviour’s Call today?

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “Experiencing Our Heavenly Father” devotional series, please click here.)