“Forgive And Forget”

Friday, November 13, 2015

I'm having a hard time forgiving myself for a wrong choice I made.  What do I need to do?  I have asked God to forgive me, but I feel so guilty and unclean.

 

Sincerely,
Internal Struggle

Dear Internal Struggle,

Christians constantly struggle with forgiving themselves for sins even after God has already forgiven them (1 Jn 1:9).  Godly people are known for their sense of integrity and personal responsibility.  Like David, christians accept the blame for their sins and don’t shirk from taking the blame (2 Sam 12:13).  This can be a double-edged sword though.  It is a positive thing when we honestly examine ourselves and see our faults without excuse (1 Cor 11:27-31).  But there is a negative side to personal responsibility… “hyper-guilt”.

When christians carry guilt for their sins long after God has forgiven them, they inhibit themselves from rejoicing.  Christians should rejoice that they are saved from their sins (Php 4:4).  It is hard for us to comprehend, but when God forgives us, He no longer remembers our sins (Heb 8:12).  Let go of your guilt, not because you weren’t wrong, but because it is to the glory of God that you let go and rejoice (1 Jn 2:12).  When we rejoice and accept God’s forgiveness and the comfort it brings, we bring glory to His name and honor Him for the gift that He has given us.

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