Journey to the Cross 
Pause
There are places in your life that feel dry, empty, like lifeless bones. Breathe. God is already there, in that exact place. Rest for a moment in the presence of the one who makes all things new.
Listen
I cry out to you from the depths, Lord—my Lord, listen to my voice! Let your ears pay close attention to my request for mercy!
If you kept track of sins, Lord—my Lord, who would stand a chance? But forgiveness is with you—that’s why you are honored.
Psalm 130:1-4
Think
“From the depths.” The psalmist is not praying from a comfortable place. She is praying from the deep, from that place where you feel like you are drowning and don’t see the surface. Maybe you know that place. Maybe you are there right now; in the depths of something that weighs you down, something you did or something that was done to you, something you carry in silence because you don’t know how to say it out loud.
The beauty of this psalm is that it does not begin with “all is well.” It starts with the truth: “I’m in deep, and I need help.” And then comes something that changes everything. God doesn’t answer us with a list of our mistakes. God answers us with forgiveness. God is not waiting with arms folded to remind you of all you’ve done wrong. God is waiting with open arms to tell you, “I know. And I love you just the same.” That forgiveness is not weakness. It is the strongest power there is.
Leila Ortiz
Question to Ponder:
What would be different if you truly believed that God doesn’t define you by your worst moments?
Pray
God of grace, from the depths of my heart I cry out to you. Thank you that your forgiveness is greater than anything that weighs me down. Help me to live freely, knowing that your love does not depend on my perfection. Amen.
Go
Renewed by the breath of God that lifts what has fallen and gives life to what seemed dead, go out into the world with courage and tenderness. Someone needs to hear today that hope has not ended.
