May 22: As Far as the East Is from the West

You said it all. Now what happens to what you said?

David reaches for the biggest distance he can imagine. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

There’s something clever about that image. If you travel north, eventually you reach the North Pole and start going south. But if you travel east, you can keep going east forever. East and west never meet. That’s how far God puts your sins from you.

After Step Five, some people feel immediate relief. Others feel shaky, exposed, even a bit raw. Both are normal. Saying everything out loud is a big thing. It takes time for your feelings to catch up with what God has done.

Shame might also try to sneak back. Old voices whisper that you said too much, or that the person who listened thinks less of you now. When that happens, come back to this verse. God doesn’t keep a file of what you confessed so He can pull it out later. He has removed it.

That’s not permission to forget everything you learned. Your inventory showed you patterns, defects and fears that still need attention. That’s what the next steps are for. But the guilt itself, the record against you, God has taken away.

There’s an old practice of doing something physical to mark this. Some people burn or shred a copy of their inventory after Step Five. Others keep it, because it’s useful for Steps Six through Nine. Talk with your sponsor about what’s right for you. Either way, the point is the same. The past is no longer a weight around your neck.

You’ve done something brave. Take a breath. Let it settle.

One thing today

If you’ve done your Step Five, write a short thank-you prayer for what God removed. If you haven’t, read this verse aloud and look at your calendar to confirm the date.

A prayer

Lord, You’ve taken my sins as far as the east is from the west. Help my heart believe it. When shame comes back, remind me what You’ve done. Thank You. Amen.

Learn more about Step Five.

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