May 10

"“ N ow, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."

Joel 2:12-13

The only times that the Lord is spoken of as relenting, in connection with His own children, are when He turns from judgment to mercy, from chastening to restoring grace. He delights in demonstrating the lovingkindness of His heart to His erring ones when they come to Him in self-judgment and contrition of soul, confessing their backslidings. Then His love is able to flow out freely and He can and will be a Father to them who thus take the place before Him where they can appropriate His forgiving grace. A broken heart over sin, He will never despise.

In a time of deep dejection

Jesus journeyed by,

Saw my heart was dull and empty,

Gently asked me “Why?”

Then I told Him all the story

Of my bitter woe,

How my hopes and joys had perished

Many years ago.

And the tears were softly dropping

As I told Him all,

Yet He did not chide my weeping,

Though He saw them fall.

But when I had told the story,

Lovingly He came,

Filled, Himself, the vacant chambers,

Blessed be His name!

Now no more my heart is vacant,

Nevermore can be;

Filled with Jesus, “Jesus only,”

For eternity!