Reasons We Don't Forgive Ourselves

 Psalm 51:1-12


1 Have mercy upon me, O God,

According to Your lovingkindness;

According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,

Blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

And cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,

And my sin is always before me.

4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,

And done this evil in Your sight—

That You may be found just [a]when You speak,

And blameless when You judge.

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

And in sin my mother conceived me.

6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me hear joy and gladness,

That the bones You have broken may rejoice.

9 Hide Your face from my sins,

And blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,

And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,

And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

 

Every human being has a sin problem. We lose our temper, make mistakes, and harbor selfish motives, but God offers forgiveness for everyone who will accept it. And yet many believers find it impossible to forgive themselves. Why?

First, we struggle with self-forgiveness at times because we find it difficult to accept God’s forgiveness. Guilt can overshadow the enormous gift of pardon and restoration that our Father has freely provided. We may think, What I’ve done is just too terrible for God to forgive me, but that’s never true. (See Titus 2:14.)

Second, personal disappointment can prevent us from forgiving ourselves. If we have ridiculously high, self-imposed standards for our behavior, failure to live up to them can leave us feeling disappointed and unworthy of forgiveness.

Third, seeing the results of our sin can keep guilt alive in our mind. That is, if our wrong actions produce a tangible negative consequence, we may find it hard to forgive ourselves. 

Are you harboring remorse for a sin from your past? God’s forgiveness is available now (1 John 1:9). Christ gave His life to make you free, so don’t willingly stay in chains. You’re invited forgive yourself for what God has already pardoned (Gal. 5:1).



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