Guilty

Guilty

Psalm 130

Monica’s heart felt like lead. I shouldn’t have done it. Oh, why did I? As she opened the front door, she pasted on a smile. “Hi, Mom. I’m home.” There was no answer. She started down the hall. “Frisky?” she called. “Here, boy.” Where was Frisky? He always met Monica at the door. Then she saw it—a trail of tissue paper from the bathroom down the hall. “You did it again, you naughty boy!” scolded Monica. “Where are you, Frisky? Come out.”

A white ball of fur came slinking out from under Monica’s bed, tail tucked between his legs. Monica laughed. “You know you’re guilty,” she said, picking up the pup, “but I love you anyway, and I forgive you. Let’s get this cleaned up before Mom sees it.”

That night Monica tossed and turned. She kept asking herself, Why did I do it? She pulled the blanket over her head to hide! It seemed like Jesus was standing beside her bed, looking through the blanket, right into her heart. She shivered. It seemed . . .

“Mama! Mama!” she screamed, sitting up in bed.

The light came on. “What’s wrong?” asked Mom.

Wide-eyed, Monica looked around. “I thought . . . it seemed like . . . I mean . . . Jesus is right here.”

Her mother smiled. “He is,” she agreed. “He’s always with us. But why does that frighten you? He loves you.”

Monica shivered. “I . . . I . . . just . . . Oh, Mama, I stole five dollars from Sue. It was on her desk and . . .”

Mom put her arms around Monica. “And that’s why you’re afraid,” she said. “The presence of the Lord is frightening only when we have sin in our life. It makes us want to hide.”

Monica remembered Frisky hiding under the bed and nodded.

“When we confess our sins, his presence comforts us,” continued Mom. “The Lord Jesus loves you, honey, and he wants to forgive you.”

After Monica and her mother prayed, Monica snuggled under the covers. “I’ll return the money,” she said. “I can sleep now. Thanks, Mom.” She knew God had forgiven her, just like—no, even more than—she had forgiven Frisky. Soon she was asleep. BW

How about You?

Does it comfort you or make you afraid to know the Lord is with you? No matter what you have done, Jesus loves you. When we confess our sins and ask his forgiveness, he’ll give us peace. He wants to do that for all of us!

Memorize:

“But you offer forgiveness.” Psalm 130:4

Confession Brings Peace