Daily Devotion - August 31

Beginning a New Week

“If only I would have”…; “I could have” …; “I should have”…--- are all phrases we often use as we react to and reflect upon a given situation, particularly a painful situation. The “would have, could have, should have” statements are ways we deal with guilt. Almost everyone likes to believe they are in control. Almost everyone likes to believe they are covering all the details related to life. Then, reality comes. We are reminded about our inability to control. We discover that we failed to complete some important details.

After the shock and anger start to subside, we are faced with guilt and pain. Maybe those “would have, could have, should have” statements are true; maybe they are no more than wish-filled projections that we might have made a difference. In every case, there are at least two things to remember. First, billions of others have had to deal with the same feelings we are feeling in our brokenness. Second, billions of others have discovered that the steadfast love of a sovereign God has forgiven and is encouraging all creation to forge ahead in the healing process.
God be with you. Have a good week.

Prayer: Let me feel your steadfast love, O God. Amen.

--Ben Keckler
08.31.09