I received an email the other day from a broken-hearted reader. This individual explained, how they have prayed over and over for forgiveness of their sins, but they never feel forgiven and it is just eating them alive. This person was really reaching out.
I responded with a short message that may benefit someone else in our audience, so I will share that response with you.
Name Withheld,
Good morning and thank you for reaching out.
You know Name Withheld, one of the hardest things for many of us to do is forgive ourselves. We feel so bad about what we have done, that we live with that guilt and relive the sin over and over again. You do not need to do that. The fact that you are so broken-hearted by it proves to our Heavenly Father that you are remorseful, and the fact that you have asked for forgiveness from God means, you have been forgiven by Him.
What exactly does that mean when you have been forgiven of your sins?
Isaiah 43:25
Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 1:9
I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
God has “blotted out” which means to “erase” your sins from the book of life. They have been removed, and you now have a clean slate. It is up to you to put good marks there and work toward that each and every day.
The only thing left is for you to forgive yourself. Ask our Father for that healing and comfort, ask Him to remove this heaviness from your heart.
It will take time, healing always does Name Withheld, just stay on the right path.