The Case of the Missing Sock (Psalm 103:11-12)

As high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:11-12

Has a sock ever gone missing at your house?

Silly question, I know. I’ve got a pile of socks longing for their missing match. Sometimes a sock shows up but mostly they’re swallowed up by the big black hole reserved for all the things you want to find but can’t.

I used to get frustrated at the collection of socks I’d find–under the sofa, behind the dresser–or didn’t find. God turned that frustration around and showed me how a missing sock is a picture of his love and forgiveness.

Here’s how you can pair up Psalm 103:11-12 with missing socks:

(Below the video are some 1-2-3’s on how to use this with your own family.)

Read over what’s below and when you find a stray sock (or when you’re searching for anything you’ve lost), bring up the points below casually. No need to make a formal “devotional” out of it. Just take advantage of the everyday moments of losing something!

First, have a sock fest.

Have everyone whip off their socks and fling them every which way. Kids will LOVE that you actually let them, and encourage them, to do it.

Second, make the transition.

“It can be hard to find a sock that’s missing. Sometimes you never find it. That reminds me of a verse in the Bible, Psalm 103:11-12.”

Third, unfold the main point.

Read or say Psalm 103:11-12. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions [sins] from us. God shows his love by forgiving our sins. When we ask forgiveness, it’s like he flings (throws away) our sins away to the east, to the west. And you can never find them again. God never brings it up again. He never holds it in front of us and says, ‘Do you remember that bad thing you did?’ He remembers our sins no more! (Isaiah 43).

Fourth, ask a question.

What would it look like if you forgave other people like God forgives you?

*Thanks to Soren B. as well as his siblings Annalis, Boden, and Bergen for helping with the videos.