Hand in Hand with Jesus

Psalm 32

Psalm 32:5

5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

 

We all make mistakes. We all fall short from time to time.

What wonderful joy there is to know that God’s forgiveness is available to those acknowledge their sin and come clean before the Lord. Years ago I found myself in a place of discontent and unhappiness with the direction of my life. The reason was because there were two things I wanted to be when I was growing up.

First, I dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player. I dedicated many years to the sport, but I just wasn't good enough. When that dream ended I pursued a career writing and performing music. I could see myself playing large arenas to sold out crowds...but it never happened. With both dreams I felt like I had all the tools for success, but the door was slammed in my face.

It hurt...and for a few years I became more bitter. I blamed others for my unrealized dreams. I held grudges against people who I thought stood in my way, and worst of all, I was upset with God. How could He not let me do the things I loved to do? Especially when I had close friends who were doing the very things I wanted to be doing. I became envious.

All of it was sinful!

There were many days I complained in my heart about it, which only made things worse. Grumbling and complaining became more common, and even though I thought it was good to just "let out" my frustration, I noticed it led to more moments of sadness and depression. Something had to change. I had to acknowledge my sin, it was the only way I could find healing and embrace the man God was calling me to be.

I knew I needed to repent and ask the Lord to forgive me. I had to trust that what God had for my life was the best thing. It was at that moment that I said to Jesus, "Here I am, Lord. Use me however you want."

Dr. Elmer Towns, one of my professors at Liberty University, taught me a deep insight into the first line of the Lord's Prayer that has always been helpful to me in moments like these. It goes like this:

"Our Father...which art in heaven."

The two opening words of the Lord’s Prayer are plural. Jesus taught this prayer so that when you say, "Our Father" you are literally taking His hand and approaching your Heavenly Father with Jesus as your escort.

I had an amazing moment of repentance and healing when I took the hand of Jesus and approached the throne of grace with Him. In that moment I felt as though I had been set free!

Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle with grumbling and complaining. We all do. But I am always reminded of that special moment when Jesus took my hand and we approached our Father together.

Perhaps today would be a great day for you to do the same. Walk hand in hand with Jesus and approach your Father in heaven. Lay all of your sins and failures at His feet. When you do this, Psalm 32:1 is correct, “Blessed are those whose transgression is forgiven.”

Lord Jesus, forgive me of all the times I haven’t trusted you. Forgive me of second guessing the direction you have taken me in this life, and help me to see that when I walk in my own ways of sin I am missing the real opportunity that you have placed all around me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Josh Huisman is the senior pastor of Crosswalk Church in Brentwood, TN.

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