You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:18-19).

Minister and church leader Alexander Whyte told the story of an older saint who was nearly destroyed by guilt and shame.

After a church meeting, the older man had lingered in idle conversation. Then, in what was meant to sound like a jest, the man said, “Now, Dr. Whyte, what word of comfort do you have for an old sinner like me?”

Beneath the pasted-on smile, Dr. Whyte perceived the man’s deep agony and later wrote how the question took his breath away. This dear saint was old in the faith, but he did not have the peace of knowing God’s forgiveness.

Dr. Whyte said that he was unsure what to say, but crossed the room to where the man was seated, took his hand, and quoted from the prophet Micah: “Our God will delight to show mercy.”

Not much more was said between the two, but the next day a note came from the older man to Dr. Whyte. It said, “Those words you quoted were comfort to my soul. I will never doubt my God again. When Satan comes to convince me that I am unworthy of the mercy of God, I will say, ‘You are right, and you know not the half of it, but I have to deal with the One who will delight to show mercy.’”

So do you!

Prayer:
Father, thank you for hurling all my sins into the depth of the sea! I do not claim my worthiness; only that I have to deal with the One who delights to show mercy.