Forgiving Ourselves

 Psalm 32

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

Whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,

And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old

Through my groaning all the day long.

4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;

My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to You,

And my iniquity I have not hidden.

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You

In a time when You may be found;

Surely in a flood of great waters

They shall not come near him.

7 You are my hiding place;

You shall preserve me from trouble;

You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;

I will guide you with My eye.

9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule,

Which have no understanding,

Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,

Else they will not come near you.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;

But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.

11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;

And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Yesterday, we considered why people fail to forgive themselves for wrongdoing. Today, let’s look at questions to ask yourself when you struggle with self-condemnation.

1. Why should I continue to condemn myself when God no longer condemns me?

2. Is my self-condemnation affecting my relationship with God? What about my relationships with other people? How so?

3. What good comes from refusing to forgive myself?

4. Does the Lord find me more devout because of my guilt and shame?

5. Is there any biblical basis for withholding self-forgiveness?

6. How long do I intend to condemn myself? What must happen for me to finally forgive myself?

When facing self-doubt and remorse, focus on the basics of who God is and what He wants for your life. Prayerfully consider these six questions. Read them aloud and spend time reflecting on each one. You may even want to journal or work through your thoughts in prayer as the Lord speaks. Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself wrestling with some of the answers. Remember, God wants to help renew our perspective, and He promises to be with us as we confront our guilt.