March 6th, 2023: It is Hard to Forgive Oneself

 

Forgiveness is the essential message of the Christian faith. We believe that Jesus took our sins upon Himself and died for us. The resurrection is the message of hope and restoration. Yet, I continue to encounter Christians and others who find it hard to forgive themselves.

Forgiving oneself demands tremendous faith to let go of our need to control. We cannot forgive ourselves because we need to retain some control over our lives.

Memories can be problematic because they can trigger ongoing remorse. We need some healing and restoration of our memories. Memories can be our stumbling blocks in the process of forgiving ourselves.

Forgiving oneself requires tremendous strength to face our mistakes honestly. We can experience freedom from self-condemnation. The deeper we acknowledge our wrongdoings in the presence of God, the freer we receive His forgiveness.

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” - Luke 6: 37