I read these verses and am reminded of my own resurrection story. For so long, I lived every day, every moment covered with guilt and shame. I couldn’t seem to move past it; it engulfed me. All I could do was see myself by my sins, and that became my identity. There was this loud voice in my head that told me I messed up and I would never be worthy of anything.
But in the same moment, I could also hear a small voice. Over time I began to listen to that smaller voice. That voice said: you are forgiven, you are loved, and your identity is not found in your mistakes. That still small voice I grew to recognize as the Lord’s.
The more I listened to his voice, the louder it became. I am so encouraged by these verses because it reminds me that there is absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God. In the moments when I thought I was too far from him, he was sitting next to me. When all I could see in myself was shame, he showed me that my true identity wasn’t found in my mistakes but in Him. Because of him, I get to walk in new life free from guilt and shame. I get to live this new life knowing I am completely forgiven and deeply loved.