Often it seems, that we are too lenient on ourselves or too hard. We do what we want and lack accountability, choose to be selfish, or make up excuses of why we behave in such a manner. Some even going as far as to believe that being human is an excuse to do wrongs. Or on the contrary, we do the opposite; we hold ourselves to an unrealistic expectation and struggle to forgive ourselves. Even after holding ourselves accountable to God and others, we have a hard time letting go. We often talk about forgiveness and how God died for our sins. Yet, at times, struggle with forgiving ourselves. It is so important to have accountability for our actions. However, me must remember that when we ask for forgiveness, that means trusting that God has forgiven us. I heard a speaker recently and though I am not quoting him in verbatim, he had an incredible analogy. I am going to sum it up. Basically, that we make perfection our idol and we never fully accept redemption. Always struggling to live up to something that here on earth, we will never accomplish. Though we must do our best, we must accept God’s forgiveness in those times that we do mess up. Otherwise, what would be the point of what He did on that cross? God warns us against idols. Sometimes they are not golden calves or people. Sometimes they are idols that we create in our mind of an impossible objective. One that only discourages us from His forgiveness and one that will always leave us discontented. If we want to be with God someday, yes, we must have a relationship with Him. Yes, we must forgive others. In this however, upon asking God for forgiveness, we have to fully forgive ourselves. Surrender our faults to Him fully who fully forgives, so then we can learn and move forward from it. Our own self-pity holds us back at times from being the people God wants us to be. He does not say forget the lessons learned, He says to follow Him and ask for His forgiveness. We must trust that He has done exactly that, if we have honestly asked. I know some people that have done everything right after they have positively changed their life around. However, like a little black cloud of guilt they still carry around the burden of their sin. They have confessed it, but they don’t let it go. It has inhibited them to be fully free with Christ and all that He has to offer. It has consumed them in depression, anxiety and has separated them from unlocking all the goodness of God. Friend, we all have messed up and fall short of the glory of God. We all have had our own guilt to bear. As we forgive people that have hurt us, may we remember to forgive ourselves; so, God can forgive us too. For a heart that never forgives all parts of its broken pieces, leaves no room for God to heal all the parts that are broken. If we want to be with God in Heaven someday, we must allow Him to be fully in our hearts and healing what only He can.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Isaiah 43:25 NIV

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Philippians 3:13 NIV

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Romans 3:23-24 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Psalms 32:5 NIV

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.