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Do you struggle with regrets from your past?
Have you ever felt like your sins might just be too big for God’s grace to cover?
Do you have a hard time embracing God’s compassion?
Years ago, I would have answered ‘yes’ to all three of those questions, but during my journey of faith, I finally realized not only the depth of God’s compassion, but that it was actually meant for me too.
It took a long time for me to accept God’s promise of unconditional love and compassion, but once I did, my life changed entirely, which is what I wrote about in todays Proverbs 31 devotion called Resurrection of Compassion. Oh what freedom we can experience when we stop beating ourselves up for things that have happened in the past, and start believing that we are worthy recipients of God’s grace.
One of my favorite verses is Psalm 103:8, which says “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” This verse serves as a constant reminder of our Lord’s love for each of us, but how quickly life causes us to lose sight of this promise.
If you’re anything like me, I desperately need this reminder on a daily basis. Even though I have allowed God to erase the regrets of my past, I still stumble and mess up – waaayyy too often. In fact on some days, as I lay in my bed at night, I fall into the trap of reliving all the things I did wrong during the day rather than turning them over to God. That’s exactly when I need to remember the promise found in this Psalm.
When we begin to entertain those thoughts of self condemnation or feel tempted to think the worst about ourselves, it helps to focus on what God has to say about us instead. Our thoughts may be pulled towards criticism and unworthiness, while His Word offers understanding, grace, mercy and compassion. Thankfully, His Word is full of reassurances of how much He loves us, and how nothing we do, or don’t do, can separate us from that love.
When we accept Him, He accepts us, no strings attached. Compassion in its highest form.
Below are a few more scriptures to tuck into our hearts and refer to when we need a dose of holy compassion.
2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
Isaiah 49:15-16a Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
Psalm 69:16-17 Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.
Lamentations 3:22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Do you have a favorite verse about the Lord’s compassion?
** Be sure to check back on Thursday for a special giveaway of Suzie Eller’s great new book, A Mended Heart! Or subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss it!
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Tracie Miles is a bestselling author and the Director of COMPEL Training with Proverbs 31 Ministries. She helps women grow stronger in their faith, pursue the life of purpose God designed them for and live a life of peace, joy and happiness despite their circumstances.
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Good Morning,
I can’t thank you enough for your Compassion in the Highest Form. I am 63 and still struggle with believing that I am good enough, or have done enough or that God’s love is there. Growing up was rough with a dad who didn’t need God, and didn’t know what to do with a daughter. God has been faithful and continues to take one layer at a time to tech me, love me etc. But your article this morning with the verses was such a gift from God. Thank you so much for giving me another step to take in the right direction. God Bless
Jean
Thank you for your comment Jean. What a blessing to see God working in your heart and your life!
Not so coincidentally, this post came to my email today. I have been going through a really tough time this past year. I have been praying through my problems and trying to allow God to work in my life. But, for the past several weeks, I have allowed negative thoughts to control everything about me. I have begun to feel defeated and rejected. Looking back, I’ve noticed these same thought patterns surfacing at certain times through this entire year of struggle and throughout my entire life. I would love to read this book and perhaps find some way of ridding myself of this thought pattern to a more productive “God-thought” pattern – some way to bring me hope.
I want to think the way God wants me to think. I want to feel joy and hope again. I want to see God’s grace and mercy. I know it is always there, but I don’t always notice or recognize it. Thank you for your post today. It really came at a time that it was needed most.
Wow! This spoke to me because God has been working on my heart issue for a couple of years now. I have had so many hurts in my life that at one point I became the tough girl so as not to get hurt again, but that didn’t help. My parents divorced when I was a year old and my father was not in my life a lot and my mom and I didn’t have the best relationship until a year ago, I am now 41. I could go on but it would take too long let’s just say I have had to deal with unworthy feelings and thoughts as well as rejections and at times thoughts that I would be better off not here. God has been working on me to accept things as they come and trust in him and that I am wanted, I am loved, I am beautiful, and most important I was created by Him in His image and He doesn’t make ugly things.
I have been working on mending my heart through daily Bible, and prayer. It is a daily process getting over childhood molestation, rape as a teenager, losing my Mom to a drunk driver, and several failed marriages. I feel so much closer to God now that he is helping forgive and move past these issues. I would like to help others that have been through similar situations, and believe this book will help with that.
My heart has been broken many times, by abusive marriages, the guilt I feel over not being there for my children, the many, many mistakes and hateful things I did. Thankfully I found the Lord and over a period of 8 years I studied the Bible and slowly began to love others thanks to Jesus and what he did for someone like me. He died for my sins which I intentionally committed and at the time didn’t think twice about. I am reading Joyce Meyer’s Battlefield of the Mind and I always write in my journal the things that really reach out to me, which is a LOT. To tell you everything would take pages so I will try to condense it. I married young and had my children in the ’70’s. I had already started experimenting with drugs before I had my daughter and it progressed until I didn’t have time for anything or anyone else. I had a mental breakdown after my husband left me and I just wasn’t making it financially on my own even though I had straightened out and quit the drugs. So, I ran….you’re thinking I know how could a mother desert her children but that was it I WASN’T thinking. I called my husband at his job, told him to be at my apartment when they got home from school because I wouldn’t be there. I was gone for a month and it was the lowest point of my life I had ever experienced. I was buried with guilt, I wanted my kids, to touch them and hold them. I knew finally the hurt I had caused and I couldn’t even function enough to get myself home. A friend in the city I ran to, got me together enough to drive me back to Texas from Arizona. It was horrible when I got there, I felt like dirt and was treated like dirt which I deserved. I deserved worse! The guilt immobilized me, do you know what I mean. I wanted to die. But a friend told me of the only one who could save me, that had died to save me, ME! Things worked out after that and I the kids and I were united and never separated again. I asked their forgiveness and still do, but I know that God has forgiven me After that I went through an abusive marriage for 13 years, I still had no self esteem and he took the little I had. And more guilt came with it, the kids had to live an alcoholic too. I am 63 now and have 7 grandchildren. My life belongs to the Lord and my daughter and her 3 children are Christian. I met a Christian man, a good man, and I’m happily married. We don’t have a lot but we have the Lord and I’m blessed by my grandchildren. God is still working on my heart and so am I. I’m active in church and have friends there I love. One thing my life did teach me is to love everyone, you don’t know what they’re going through or have been through. But for the grace of God go I. I read every Christian book I can find on healing and growing closer to God. And after 8 years of BSF I have made a good headway on learning God’s Word. I love books and this one sounds so good I would love to have it to read and pass on to another hurting person. God bless all you women who posted comments, He is the great healer!
Tracie, I read your post on Saturday morning before I rushed out to drive 2 hours to visit with my 17 year old son. It was the post about “Thoughts”. I was upset when on Sunday I searched and searched through my e-mails trying to remember where I read your message. I searched again today and was so excited to find you here. I have ordered Susie’s book “A Mended Heart” and I can’t wait to receive it. My thoughts are constantly on my husband. We have been separated for 2 1/2 years and I struggle with his decisions every day. I tried hard to mend my broken marriage, but he is in a relationship with another. My thoughts are effecting my work, my sleep, my self esteem, my children and just about every aspect of my daily life. I feel I have been lead to your words and the book. I struggle with moving on at the age of 54. Divorce is the last thing I wanted, but I see now that it is inevitable. I long for the day where my thoughts are fresh, clear and focused on God. I am so glad I found your post. Thank you for what you do!