Forgiven

Today I was feeling bad because of problems I've caused in relationships--I've badly hurt people that I love. I thought I had forgiven myself, but today this was coming back to haunt me. I remembered that Jesus forgave the people who nailed him to the cross. That helped me understand the magnitude of His forgiveness. I remembered Colossians 2:13, which says that God forgives ALL our trespasses. I went for a walk, and the sun shone very brightly on the snow. And the hymn came to mind:

I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small!
Child of weakness, watch and pray
Find in Me thine all in all."
Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow.

I could picture Jesus looking at me and saying, "I forgive you." With those loving eyes! I wondered if He forgave me for doubting my forgiveness. Again He said to me, "I forgive you."
Another song lyric came into my mind, from the song, "Day by Day", by Point of Grace:

Day by day You're coming closer
Making our way clearer and straighter
Turning our faces into the light.

And that reminded me of Psalm 44:3 "For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them." Because my struggle with believing I'm forgiven is more like a war than a one-time battle, it's good to know how to fight. Looking into the loving face of Jesus and seeing His love really helps me in the battle.