When I see wickedness happening in the world, I get very sad. When I hear news of innocence being trampled and greedy people hoarding what they have and stealing more from the poor, I can hardly bear it. But, the fact is, I am wicked myself. I am guilty too.

God isn’t wicked. He is pure love and holiness. I can’t imagine how all our wickedness must hurt Him. And He sees it all, every last ugly bit. The pain is unimaginable.

In fact, not only does God see our cruelty and selfishness, He feels it too. Jesus wore all of our sins like a cloak on the day of His execution. When He sweat drops of blood the night before, I don’t think He was anxious because of the physical pain He expected. He was agonizing over the sins He would have to bear for me, and you, and everyone who ever existed. He would see each of those sins, live them, and then die for them. Thank God He did.

“Blessed be the Lord! Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation.” (Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭19,‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Even after my salvation, I keep sinning. I don’t want to, but I do. And Jesus keeps washing me clean again, each time I repent. Blessed be the Lord!

Dear God, you created me in your image so I know you feel pain like me but even more deeply than I do. I’m so sorry for the sin I commit that causes you pain. Thank you for loving me enough to endure that pain for me and for dying to take my wickedness away without also taking my life.