When I have been burdened with guilt and shame, my search for assurance of His forgiveness has frequently brought me to Psalm 103. This psalm has also comforted my heart when sorrows and illnesses have multiplied, leaving me wondering, “Where are you, God? and “Do you really care?”

Psalm 103 is a beautiful passage of Scripture praising and glorifying God that I turned to recently when my son who had been unemployed for a very, very long time got a job! His job fits him well and was a miraculous provision of our AWESOME GOD. I was praising God for David’s job but also for His wonderful benefits in vs. 2-7 and for who He is and for His marvelous goodness throughout this psalm. Psalm 103 is a celebration of God—“Praise the LORD, O my soul!”

When you are burdened with guilt and shame, God wants to comfort your soul and grant freedom to your spirit. Verses 2, 3: “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins.” How many does he forgive? ALL! Verse 12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Can you ever arrive at the east?

God declares your transgressions are not laid on you! They were REMOVED! They were laid on Christ at the cross, and the penalty for those sins and transgressions was paid in full! Hallelujah, what a Savior. Oh, by the way—to go around feeling guilty is a sin, too. Confess your sin, name it as sin in His sight, claim that you did it (the devil or your child or ______ did not make you do it) and accept His perfect forgiveness, totally paid for by Christ’s great sacrifice (see 1 John 1:9). Thank Him and “praise his holy name.”

When overcome by sorrows and thoughts that God must not care about you, this psalm clearly proclaims His great love and compassion for you. Verse 4: “who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion.” He redeemed you (paid the price for you and bought you) out of a pit of worthlessness and covered you. He is “abounding in love” vs. 8, overflowing love, love that cannot be contained—for you!

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him” (v. 11). This massive, great, awesome love is for you! Those who fear him are those who acknowledge him with reverential awe. “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him” (v. 17). He loved you in eternity past! He loves you into eternity future. “Praise the LORD, O my soul”!

Which verses speak to what you are facing today? Write them on a card and look at those words, straight from the pen of your heavenly Father and praise Him that He has written those words with you in mind for today.