Tuesday, February 2, 2010

NO BACK BUTTON

My husband is an avid golfer, so he pays close attention to the weather. Every morning his first question to me is, "have you checked the weather this morning?" I have it loaded on the desk top, so as the computer boots up, the weather channel displays the current weather conditions in our area. This morning was no different. "Sorry honey, rain all day." He shrugged his shoulders, "is it raining now?" I nodded my head. "When did it start?" Since the weather browser has no back button, I assume most people don't care what the weather was an hour ago, only what it will be in the coming hours. I sat thinking about that for a second, and realized that's a lot like the way our Lord works. He doesn't have a "back button". He tells us to ask for forgiveness, know that He will forgive us and move forward. A friend called one day with concerns on her heart. She shared with me and talked for a while. She said, "I know God will never forgive me. I'm not worthy. This is going to be hanging over my head the rest of my life." I waited until the tears stopped, then asked her. "Have you asked God to forgive you?" "Of course, many times." "You have to forgive yourself. Then you have to know that He has forgiven you too." Jeremiah 15:19 Therefore this is what the Lord says: If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman." We prayed together that day. She told me she had never felt more at peace. Today she is working as a crisis counselor. And she is worthy in the Lords eyes as well as her own.

8 comments:

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

Hi Katt -

Great analogy! Thanks. :)

Blessings,
Susan

Karen Lange said...

Amen and amen!

David Ebright said...

Not to detract from the real point of your post which is, of course, on the money, but .... shshsh... don't want anyone else to hear...

"When did it start?"
(THIS IS A GUY QUESTION..) Trust me, I know.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Dave, you are right! It's a golf guy thing--how wet is the green? ha ha (if it's been raining for hours) Thanks for your "guy" point of view

Carol J. Garvin said...

Sometimes we're our own worst enemy, so sure that our past will forever overshadow our future. It's hard to believe that forgiveness is as simple as just accepting what God is offering us. And oh, the joy when it finally sinks in!

Great post, Katt. Thanks.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Carol, my Grandmother used to tell me that---"you are your own worst enemy!" It's so true----thanks for your comments. Hugs

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Katt, I'm presenting you with the Sunshine Award. You can pick it up at my blog along with the instructions. Thanks for everything.

David Ebright said...

Hey Katt - Hope everything's Okay - You've been kinda quiet lately.