Some people have done something they replay again and again. They may have apologised, made amends where they could, even been forgiven by the people they hurt, and still cannot let themselves off.
Bigger than your heart
The Bible takes guilt seriously. It doesn’t tell you that what you did doesn’t matter. But it also says your own verdict on yourself is not the final word:
…because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
1 John 3:20
Shame says, “I am what I did.” God’s forgiveness says something different: what you did is real, and it can be dealt with.
How far forgiveness goes
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
The Bible is full of people who did terrible things and were forgiven. David committed adultery and arranged a murder. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Paul persecuted Christians. Each found that God’s grace reached further than their failure.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1
Learning to receive it
Forgiving yourself is often less about deciding something and more about accepting what God has already offered. It can take time, and many people find it helps to talk it through with someone, or to say it out loud in prayer.
If something is weighing on you, you don’t have to carry it alone. We would be glad to listen, without judgement.
