The Trip I Never Want to Take

 “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.  Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)

     “Want to take a trip?” my husband asked.  The question sounded innocent enough. Who wouldn’t want to travel to a beautiful place you hadn’t been to before? “Sure,” I said. “I’m up for anything.” The smile that spread across my husband’s face was a clue – a big clue – that I should have thought through my answer a little longer than the one second it had taken me.

     I found out very quickly that our definitions of “trip” were completely opposite. We packed our car and drove off on what I assumed would be leisurely days of exploring the countryside and smelling the fresh air. Nope. Not even close. We drove through – DROVE THROUGH – 9 states in 5 days! At one point, I muttered “I have no idea where we are,” to which he responded, “Me, either, but isn’t this a fun trip!”  I tried to smile a “yes” but inside I was thinking “Are you kidding me? Wait - did we just drive through Tennessee?”

    Most trips can be fun. Take a trip to the Mall of America or take a trip to Colorado. A trip to the Grand Canyon would be great, wouldn’t it? What about a trip around the world? Any of those trips could result in a time of relaxation and rest. But there is one trip you should never take: a guilt trip.

     What do you get if you buy that guilt trip ticket? Baggage: drained emotions and sleepless nights and migraines and stomach aches. Just as a peaceful, relaxing trip to Florida and the beach begs me to return, so does the guilt trip. And, unfortunately, many times I give in and revisit again and again and again.

     Never forget the Truth our Father has promised us in His Word. When we ask to be forgiven for sin in our lives, we find as David did in Psalm 103:12 that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” And then God takes that forgiveness one step further.

     He looks us in the eye and speaks this to our hearts: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:12) It sounds like the first confirmed diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in the Bible. But it isn’t. It is so much more. It’s His promise to forgive and to forget . . . forever.

         Now, be prepared for the liar to sneak in, trying to get you to pack your suitcase for the guilt trip. Satan will whisper “if only you had . . .” or “ you aren’t really forgiven.” as he tries to convince you that God will never truly forgive and forget what you did or said. His purpose is to try to get you to doubt God . . . and feel guilty . . . and ask forgiveness (again) . . . and doubt . . . and on and on. 

        Don’t pack a suitcase for the guilt trip because it will slowly cripple your thought and prayer life and eventually affect your relationship with the Lord. The next time you feel the pull from Satan to go on a guilt trip, read Ephesians 2:4-5 and make the decision to change it to a grace trip. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” 

       Lord, forgive me when I allow guilt and doubt to crowd out your forgiveness and grace. I hand my guilt and doubt to you and lay them at the foot of the cross. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 R.A.P. it up . . .

Reflect

• What is your first response when you ask forgiveness for sin? Immediate relief and    thankfulness or questioning as to whether you are truly forgiven?

•  Do you find yourself doubting whether God really does forgive and forget your sin?

 

 Apply

• Memorize Hebrews 8:12 and repeat it to yourself when feelings of guilt creep in and try to pull your focus off the Lord.

•  Ask a prayer warrior to partner with you and hold you accountable when you begin to doubt God’s forgiveness and His forgetting sin in your life.

 

Power

• Isaiah 44:22 (NIV) “I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”  

• Psalm 38:4 (NIV) “My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear.”

• Hebrews 8:12 (NIV) “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”