Forgiveness | Skyler Thomas

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Devotional: Finding Grace at the End of the Road

Scripture:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
—Matthew 11:28 (ESV)

Devotional:
There are moments in life when we feel like we’ve reached the end of the road—when the weight of our mistakes and the burden of our circumstances leave us broken and searching for hope. April 3, 2014, was one of those moments for me. I had traveled to Oklahoma City to escape the wreckage of my life, and for a brief moment, the energy of OKC Thunder and my favorite player, Kevin Durant, allowed me to forget my pain. But reality waited for me the next day.

Sitting on the dry boat ramp at Lake Hefner, I felt like my surroundings mirrored my heart—parched, empty, and at a dead end. With headphones on and tears streaming down my face, I cried out to God. I played a song, “Word of God, Speak to Me” over and over, its lyrics piercing my heart. It was there, in the silence and solitude, that I realized running wasn’t the answer. I needed to face my pain and give it to God.

As I sat at the edge of that ramp, it struck me: I had been carrying a burden I was never meant to bear alone. For so long, I had tried to fix things in my own strength, only to end up more broken and exhausted. The end of the road wasn’t an ending—it was an invitation. An invitation to surrender my shame, my failures, and my heavy heart to the One who could truly heal me. The dry conditions of the lake mirrored my soul, but I was reminded that God is the living water, able to quench the deepest thirst and bring life to the driest places.

Sometimes, the hardest part of healing is letting go of the mask we wear. We cling to an image of strength, afraid to admit our struggles. But healing begins when we strip away the facade and come before God as we are—broken, messy, and desperate for His touch. That day at Lake Hefner, I didn’t need eloquent words or polished prayers. I just needed honesty, and God met me in my rawest, most vulnerable moment.

Have you felt like you’ve reached the end of the road? Maybe your heart feels heavy with regret or your circumstances feel insurmountable. Let me encourage you: God’s grace is sufficient for you. He doesn’t meet you with condemnation or shame—He meets you with open arms and unshakable love. He invites you to lay down your burdens and trust Him to do the work you cannot do on your own.

Prayer:
Lord, thank You for meeting us in our brokenness and offering the gift of Your grace. When we feel like we’ve reached the end of the road, remind us that You are there, waiting to restore us and lead us into new life. Help us to lay down our burdens at Your feet and trust in Your redeeming power. Let Your love transform us, and may our lives testify to the miracle of Your grace. Thank You for never leaving us where You find us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Writing:

Have you ever wanted a miracle
But felt unworthy to plead

Have you felt like a lost cause
weighed down, never to be freed

All you could do was crawl in a hole
Never to be heard from or seen

Giving up a life of purpose
Giving up hope to be clean

Shouting out to God in your anger
Why not me Lord, why am I not deserving

If you were truly a God of love and compassion
You are the one I would be serving

Walking away into the night
Your heart hardened, you have no regret

Your hopes crushed to have a Savior
Someone who loves you, who will pay your debt

Have you ever seen a miracle
in the life of another soul

Have you ever witnessed the gratitude
that comes by making one whole

It’s a beauty that’s indescribable
A gift from the One above

Filled with so much awe and wonder
It is truly a gift of love

That gift is yours for the taking
All you have to do is ask

But you will never be able to come clean
If you continue to wear your mask

How do you break free from yourself
From the bondage that’s keeping you a slave

You have to lift your hands to the one above
For He is the only one who can save

Come to the living water’s edge
And feel the power of healing

It is a miracle you can receive
The love of the Savior revealing

You will be free from your own bondage
To be made whole again

Give Him your burden, completely your burden
He will cleanse you from all your sin

Have you ever seen a miracle
in the life of your own soul

Have you ever poured out your gratitude
that comes by making you whole

It’s a beauty that’s indescribable
A gift from the One above

Filled with so much awe and wonder
It is truly a gift of love

Song Lyrics

(Verse 1)

Have you longed for a miracle, felt unworthy to believe?
Burdened down by guilt and shame, no hope to be relieved.
In the darkness, you have wondered, “Can I ever be made whole?”
Jesus stands with arms wide open, He’s the Savior of your soul.

(Verse 2)

Have you seen a heart surrendered, healed by mercy’s gentle hand?
Felt the joy of restoration, love you cannot understand?
Bring your pain and all your burdens; leave them at the cross tonight.
Let His power make you righteous, shining pure in holy light.

(Chorus)

Have you seen a miracle, felt His love that sets you free?
It’s a gift beyond all measure, full of grace and majesty.
Come and drink the living water, let it wash your fear away.
Jesus breaks the chains that bind you; He’s your miracle today.

(Verse 3)

Have you felt the weight of sorrow, like a chain you cannot break?
Every step feels weak and heavy, every move a deep mistake.
Jesus sees your every struggle, and He whispers, “You are Mine.”
Through His grace, the chains will shatter; you will rise in love divine.

(Bridge)

Lift your hands and call upon Him; He will meet you where you stand.
Every tear and cry of sorrow, He will hold within His hand.
Feel the freedom in His presence, leave your past and walk His way.
Jesus loves you and redeems you; He’s your miracle today.

(Verse 4)

Have you walked in endless darkness, longing for the morning light?
Felt the pain of isolation, thinking hope was out of sight?
Jesus calls you from the shadows; He will lead you by His hand.
Step into His glorious promise, to the life that He has planned.

(Chorus)

(Outro)

He’s your miracle today,
Jesus is your miracle today.

Song:

Scripture:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:32

Walking in the Light of Forgiveness (Devotional):

In our quiet moments of introspection, we may find ourselves facing a familiar silhouette—an echo of the person we once were. The image, outlined by a soft glow, invites us to pause and reflect on the contrasts within us: the friend we nurture and the foe we sometimes become to ourselves. This inner dialogue mirrors our journey with God—a journey from darkness, marked by pain and retaliation, toward a radiant hope defined by forgiveness.

Imagine standing in a dimly lit room, the only guide a shadow that seems at once both foreign and achingly familiar. When we ask, “Who are you?” we may be questioning the remnants of old anger, the wounds that have yet to heal, and the part of us that clings to the law of retaliation—a law that demands an eye for an eye. But God’s call is different. It is a call to remember that there is another way, a path that leads from bitterness to the liberating power of forgiveness.

As the shadow speaks—its words echoing the pain of past transgressions—it also offers a gentle invitation: “There’s another way the Spirit wants you to know.” In that moment, the familiar darkness begins to recede, replaced by the promise of healing. The journey is not without its challenges. At times, the pull toward old habits may feel as if it drags us back into a valley of regret. Yet, with each step, as we walk through the night toward the rising sun, we are reminded that forgiveness is not merely an act of letting go, but an embrace of a new beginning.

From a hilltop, we might see the multitude of faces—friends, family, even strangers—all walking their own paths, each carrying their stories. In the midst of this collective journey, we are gently urged to set aside the daggers of anger and resentment. Instead, we are called to extend grace, to let the warmth of forgiveness melt away the remnants of hurt. This transformation is not instantaneous, but like the slow yet sure ascent of the sun, it promises a new day filled with hope, healing, and reconciliation.

Let this devotional serve as a reminder that our past does not define us. In the light of Christ’s love, we are invited to remember who we truly are—a beloved child of God, capable of extending and receiving forgiveness. Our scars, though reminders of past pain, become testimonies of grace when we allow the Spirit to lead us toward wholeness.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
In the quiet of this moment, I open my eyes to the shadows of my past. Help me to see clearly the ways in which old hurts and regrets have shaped me, and grant me the strength to let them go. Lead me on the path of forgiveness and healing, that I may embrace the new beginning You offer. Fill my heart with Your compassion and guide my steps as I walk into the light of Your love. I thank You for Your endless grace and pray that I might extend that same grace to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Writing:

I open my eyes
I see a silhouette outlined by the glow

“Who are you?”
I yell out, “Are you my friend or my foe?”

Emerging from the shadows
I see the likeness of me a long time ago

“Are you lost?” I ask
“Can you remember the direction you should go?”

Then it turns to me
I see the fresh blood from its eye socket flow

“What could this be?”
“Lex Talionis, the Law of Retaliation on me you bestow?”

“An eye for eye?”
“A tooth for a tooth, is this what you think I owe?”

“Is this all I’ve become?”
“Nothing more than the bitter daggers I throw?”

It says to me,
“There’s another way the Spirit wants you to know.”

“You must remember.”
“For that’s the only way forgiveness can let go.”

It reaches for my hand
And drags me through the darkness…at first slow

Faster and faster it pulls
Then turns and says, “You want to get well, no?”

We journey through the night
For miles and miles until we can see the Sun’s glow

From the hill above, I look down
I see hundreds, or maybe thousands of people I know

I descend to the valley
Listening to their stories, walking among them to-and-fro

Song:

Verse 1:
I open my eyes, a silhouette in the glow,
A mirror of my past, where doubts and sorrows grow.
“Who are you?” I cry, friend or foe of my soul?
In quiet reflection, I long simply to be whole.

Pre-Chorus:
In stillness of my heart, Your mercy softly calls,
A gentle whisper of grace, breaking down these walls.

Chorus:
Oh, forgiveness grows; let Your shining light come through,
Mending every broken part with a love so true.
As You forgave, oh Lord, help me forgive anew,
In the light of Your mercy, I’m made brand new.

Verse 2:
From the shadows of regret, echoes of pain arise,
Old daggers of retaliation once blinded my eyes.
Yet a voice within the darkness declares, “There’s another way,”
Leading me from bitter nights into the promise of day.

Pre-Chorus:
Every step toward the dawn, Your Spirit guides my way,
Turning scars to testimonies in the warmth of Your ray.

Bridge:
From a hilltop I behold a multitude of grace,
Every story, every soul, redeemed by Your embrace.
No longer bound by past mistakes or the weight of old regret,
In Your compassion, Lord, I rise—forever unforget

Verse 3:
I descend into the valley where Your truth is all I know,
Listening to hearts set free, where gentle rivers flow.
The shadow fades into the light, and I hear that loving call:
“Remember, let forgiveness grow; in Your love, you have it all.”

Chorus:
Oh, forgiveness grows; let Your shining light come through,
Healing every wounded heart with a love so true.
As You forgave, oh Lord, help me forgive anew,
In the light of Your mercy, I’m made brand new.

Outro:
In the quiet of Your mercy, I rise into the day,
Every burden washed away by the grace You freely say.
Lord, I offer up my heart, in awe of all You do—
Forever singing, “In Your light, I am made new.”

Skyler Thomas

The real who I am…as I see me…

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