It’s Over!

Last week’s blog The Miracle of the Rescue highlighted Mary Magdalene’s deliverance from demon possession as portrayed in the new television drama The Chosen. I can’t help but give a sneak peek from Season 2 to those of you who haven’t gotten that far. To me, this scene is one of the most moving moments between Mary and Jesus so far. 

The writers have taken liberty with the Scriptures to create a very plausible storyline involving Mary’s return to her former way of life. In this scenario, Mary’s emotions are triggered by the appearance of a Roman soldier dressed in all his finery.

Whenever our negative emotions are suddenly and unexpectedly activated, we too have the choice of running back to the familiar (either literally or in our minds), or clinging to the steadfast promises of God and dealing with those emotions quickly.

Mary chose to run, but her disciple friends went after her and brought her back to Jesus. What you are about to see will remind you of the forgiveness Jesus wants to give you and the loving tenderness He has for you … 

even when you doubt His love, 

even when you think you can’t be good enough,

even when you sin,

even when you feel ashamed, 

even when doubts creep in, and

especially when you feel like running away. 

Please take three minutes to watch the video, and then read what King David has to say about forgiveness in Psalm 32 (The Passion Translation). There is healing in his words.

Blessings on you, my friend!

“What bliss belongs to the one whose rebellion has been forgiven, those whose sins are covered by blood. What bliss belongs to those who have confessed their corruption to God!

For he wipes their slates clean and removes hypocrisy from their hearts.

Before I confessed my sins, I kept it all inside; my dishonesty devastated my inner life, causing my life to be filled with frustration, irrepressible anguish, and misery. The pain never let up, for your hand of conviction was heavy on my heart. My strength was sapped, my inner life dried up

like a spiritual drought within my soul.

Then I finally admitted to you all my sins, refusing to hide them any longer. I said, “My life-giving God, I will openly acknowledge my evil actions.” And you forgave me! All at once the guilt of my sin washed away and all my pain disappeared!

This is what I’ve learned through it all:

All believers should confess their sins to God; do it every time God has uncovered you in the time of exposing. For if you do this, when sudden storms of life overwhelm, you’ll be kept safe. Lord, you are my secret hiding place, protecting me from these troubles, surrounding me with songs of gladness! Your joyous shouts of rescue release my breakthrough.

I hear the Lord saying, ‘I will stay close to you, instructing and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So, don’t make it difficult; don’t be stubborn when I take you where you’ve not been before. Don’t make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with me!’

So, my conclusion is this:

Many are the sorrows and frustrations of those who don’t come clean with God. But when you trust in the Lord for forgiveness, his wraparound love will surround you. So, celebrate the goodness of God! He shows this kindness to everyone who is his. Go ahead—shout for joy, all you upright ones who want to please him!” (Psalm 32, TPT)

Look up! You’re forgiven. It’s over!

Posted in
a poster saying IT'S OVER with tiny hearts in the background

Holy in an Unholy World

By Donna Jackson | March 19, 2024 |

Getting a fresh taste of God’s word fills and thrills my soul. Every year, I enjoy reading from a different translation as I travel from beginning to end. This year, I chose the Day-by-Day Chronological Bible. It highlights how God has written the most fascinating story that includes us all. Each daily reading begins with…

Holiness 101 in the Checkout Line

By Donna Jackson | March 12, 2024 |

We spent this past weekend in Auburn. Since the rain had moved out and our place was within walking distance of Walmart, I laced up my tennis shoes to get what we needed. With our topic of holiness simmering unconsciously on the back burner of my brain, God decided to create a teachable moment for…

The Push and Pull of Holiness

By Donna Jackson | March 5, 2024

One man in Scripture hesitated and made a few excuses, but he never said “NEVER” to his calling! God sent Moses a blazing invitation to join him on holy ground.  This exclusive invitation allowed Moses to stand before Pharaoh to teach him a thing or two. (Exodus 3) God’s great desire was to rescue his…

Insignificantly Significant

By Donna Jackson | February 27, 2024

The Samaritan woman didn’t know God was setting her up for something good. She woke up next to a man she hoped would make her feel significant. The last few years, all she felt was shame for failing at love so many times. That shame led her to the well to draw water in the heat…

Following the Breadcrumbs

By Donna Jackson | February 24, 2024

In Winston Churchill’s 1948 address to the British House of Commons, he declared, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” He borrowed this sentiment from George Santayana’s The Life of Reason, penned in 1905, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”  Other than the birth, life,…

Troubling the Troubler: Defeating Discouragement

By Donna Jackson | February 13, 2024

What do you do when you feel overwhelmingly discouraged? Do you wrap yourself in solitude? Do you reach for a pill or drink to ease the hurt? Do you try to ignore your problem and hope it goes away? Maybe you fear your feelings, so you lash out in anger at anyone who dares to…

How to Share the Gospel

By Donna Jackson | February 6, 2024

In Matthew 28:19, we’re told to go out and make disciples of all nations. This is one of the single most important commands in the Bible. However, we often feel uncomfortable sharing the gospel. Why do we think this? In reality, it’s simpler than we think. Acts 13:47 says that the Lord has commanded us:…

Do You Believe in Miracles?

By Donna Jackson | January 30, 2024

I’m not sure when it first happened, but the word “love” has been diluted. We “love” our favorite food, our favorite song, and even our favorite pair of shoes. We often use the word carelessly, so much so that expressing genuine love for God or another seems watered-down. It doesn’t always convey the heartfelt depth…

Why?

By Donna Jackson | January 23, 2024

Do you have a friend who will sit with you in your pain? One who will give you time to feel the onslaught of emotions and whose mere presence offers comfort? I’m blessed to have a husband and another dear friend who will do that. They don’t have to say anything; they only need to…

The Three Parts of You

By Donna Jackson | January 16, 2024

Stories of incredible transformation inspire change in others. My sweet mother struggled much of her life with her weight. Her food choices affected not only her weight, blood pressure, and Type 2 diabetes but also her emotional health. She finally grew weary of being sick and tired all the time. So, she paid attention to…