October 8
Not Beyond
Forgiveness
"Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer judged guilty."
Romans 8:1 (NIrV)
Kimberley sat alone in her tiny apartment, the weight of her past pressing on her like a heavy chain she couldn’t break free from. The voices in her head were relentless. God could never love someone like you. Look at what you’ve done.
She had done things she wasn’t proud of—stealing from corner stores when she was younger, using words that dripped with anger and disrespect, even cursing God’s name without a second thought. She had smoked weed to escape the pain and emptiness. And the men… the married men. She had told herself it didn’t matter, that it wasn’t her problem if they were unfaithful. But deep down, it did matter. She had broken homes, broken hearts—maybe even broken her own.
But the thing that haunted her most was the abortion. She had told herself it was the right choice at the time. She wasn’t ready, she couldn’t handle a baby, and the father was long gone. But now, years later, the regret gnawed at her. What kind of woman does something like that? How could she ever be forgiven for taking a life?
Kimberley used to laugh at people who talked about Jesus. She would roll her eyes when someone said, God loves you. But now, sitting in the dark with her past weighing her down, she felt something stirring deep inside her. A longing. A hope she didn’t dare to believe in.
She reached for her phone and hesitantly typed, Can God forgive someone like me?
A Bible verse popped up on the screen: Romans 8:1 – Those who belong to Christ Jesus are no longer judged guilty.
Her breath caught in her throat. Could it really be true? No longer judged guilty? Even her?
Tears welled in her eyes. She didn’t deserve it. She didn’t deserve love or grace. But something inside her whispered, That’s the point. No one deserves it. That’s why Jesus came.
For the first time in years, Kimberley dropped to her knees.
“God,” she choked out, “I don’t know if You can hear me. I don’t know if You even want to. But I need You. I’m tired of carrying this shame. I don’t want to run anymore. If You can still love someone like me… I want to believe it.”
A strange warmth filled her chest, like light breaking into the darkest corners of her heart. She didn’t hear an audible voice, but she knew—deep down—God had heard her.
She was not beyond His love. Not beyond His forgiveness.
And for the first time in her life, she felt free.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I come before You with a heart heavy with regret and shame.
I have done things I cannot erase, and for so long, I believed I was unworthy of Your love.
But Your Word says that in Christ, I am no longer judged guilty.
Thank You for Your mercy, for loving me even when I thought I was beyond saving.
Help me to accept Your grace, to walk in the freedom Jesus has given me.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
