Have you ever found yourself in over your head?

Sometimes that’s just an expression. You’re overwhelmed with work or responsibilities. Other times, it describes something much deeper. Grief. Fear. Guilt. A situation that seems impossible to fix. You are drowning in it.

The writer of Psalm 130 knew that feeling.

He begins,

“Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord.”

We aren’t told exactly what those “depths” were. But as the psalm unfolds, it becomes clear that guilt plays a central role. The psalmist recognizes that if God kept a record of every sin, no one could stand before Him.

That’s a sobering thought.

Most of us have a way of comparing ourselves to other people. We can usually find someone who has made worse decisions or committed greater sins than we have. But Psalm 130 doesn’t compare us with other people.

It places us before a holy God.

And suddenly the question isn’t whether we’ve done better than someone else.

The question is whether we can stand before perfect righteousness.

The answer is no.

That could leave us in despair. Instead, the psalm gives one of the most beautiful statements in all of Scripture:

“But with You there is forgiveness.”

Not because God overlooks sin or sin doesn’t matter.

There is forgiveness because God Himself provides it.

That forgiveness is found in Jesus Christ. Every sin that condemns us was laid upon Him. Every debt we could never repay was paid in full at the cross.

That’s why Christians can confess their sins honestly. We don’t have to minimize them or explain them away. We already know where forgiveness is found.

It’s been said,

“The church should be the easiest place in the world to admit you’re a sinner.”

Sometimes we may not feel like that’s the case, but that’s because we’ve let our eyes drift from the Gospel and we start to think we need to look good and righteous in front of others.

God’s Word tells us that we are all sinners and our only hope is is Jesus. He is the only one who is good and righteous of Himself. We are only good and righteous because Jesus has declared us so.

I think the saying is right.

After all, we aren’t gathered because we’ve earned God’s approval. We gather because we need His mercy. Week after week, we confess our sins and hear the wonderful words of absolution. God isn’t reminding us of our failures. He’s reminding us of His forgiveness.

That’s where Psalm 130 leads us.

Not into the depths.

But out of them, by God’s forgiveness in Christ.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

When I am burdened by my sin, remind me that with You there is forgiveness. Thank You for sending Jesus to bear my guilt and to give me the assurance that my sins are forgiven. Help me to live each day in the joy and freedom of Your grace.

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.