Some encouragement for you

A dear friend was in the dumps this morning. Here are some words I’ll share with this friend and with you, should you be experiencing some despair in these troubled days.

From St. John Chrysostom (literally St. John “Golden Mouth”), who served in Antioch and then in Constantinople (AD 344-407). From Daily Readings: the Early Church Fathers, by Nick Needham.

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Isa. 1:18

God doesn’t desire a sinner’s death, but his conversion. Therefore, let no one despair…It isn’t the multitude of sins that makes people despair, but their own ungodly attitude.

Therefore, even if you have gone to sin’s utmost length, yet say to yourself, “

God is loving towards humanity and desires our salvation.” For He says, “though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow” (Isa. 1:18). In other words, “I will transform you into a better person!” So, let us not surrender in despair. It isn’t falling that is truly terrible, but to lie where we have fallen. It isn’t being wounded that is so dreadful, but refusing to be healed…

I don’t say these things to make you more careless, but to save you from despair. Would you see how kind our Master is? The tax collector went up to the temple full of ten thousand sins; he simply said, “Be merciful to me,” and he went home justified! (Luke 18:13-14). Can there be anything equal to this compassion?

God’s mercy is here for your through the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord.