Have You Forgiven Yourself?

Written by Katherine J. Kehler

Check out the new CWT site and let us know what you think!

“…for His name’s sake your sins were forgiven” (1 John 2:12).

We were flying to a conference. I was in the middle seat – certainly not my choice – but my husband and I have an agreement that if a woman is sitting by the window, I sit in the middle, if a man is in the seat by the window, Marvin sits in the middle.

Barely was I settled, when I discerned that the young woman sitting next to me was very sad and deep in thought. Making conversation, I asked her where she was from, where she was going and what she did.

She was a student and had been attending university in Poland – the homeland of her father. Then she told me sadly that her father had died. She had chosen to attend college in Poland against her father’s wishes and they hadn’t forgiven each other before he died.

Life Lesson: Rekindle the romance
Series for brides: 8 Lessons

She seemed so sad and I recognized a deeper issue. I asked her if she had forgiven herself for not complying with her father’s wishes. She answered that she couldn’t forgive herself and felt so guilty. Slowly, I began to tell her about God’s love and forgiveness. Because of Christ’s death on the cross, her sins were forgiven and guilt was removed. I encouraged her to believe that because God had forgiven her, she could forgive herself no matter how awful she thought she had been. As I spoke, I prayed and my husband prayed.

I told her about something I had done as a teenager for which I had felt guilty about for many years. How I had come to the place where I was faced with the choice of forgiving myself because Christ had already forgiven me or I could continue feeling guilty the rest of my life. I had chosen to forgive myself.

The light in her eyes went on. She began to understand she was totally forgiven and could forgive herself. She could be free and happy. “God meant for you to sit with me today, she told me at the end of the flight.

How about you? Is there something in your life for which you feel guilty? You don’t need to. Simply accept God’s love and forgiveness.

Father, thank You that Jesus Christ took our sin and guilt upon Himself at the cross. Thank You for setting us free. Thank You for Your love. Amen.

Questions: Can you think of a situation in your life that you need to forgive yourself for? How can one deal with one’s guilt feelings from the past?

About the author Katherine Kehler

Tags: conversation, died, discerned, encouraged, forgive, forgiven, forgiveness, guilty, homeland, katherine kehler, love, Poland, sad, sins, student, university

3 Responses to “Have You Forgiven Yourself?”

Loading comments
kanj says:

November 6, 2009 at 8:23 pm

i firmly believed that very early in my re birth that i had forgiven myself for all that my past entailed. now almost three years later, i’m not too sure that i have forgiven myself of an abortion that i had over twenty five years ago. for some months now (off and on) the issue is resurfacing in my heart and that is why i feel that perhaps i have not in fact forgiven myself for doing this.
i am dealing with it the only way i know how and that is to let go and let God. this is the only way to rid myself of regret and enables me to continue to trust in the Lord.
Angie says:

November 1, 2009 at 4:27 pm

I needed this devotional really bad. There have been things in my life that I have asked the Lord for forgiveness for, but I have never forgiven myself. I am going to do that today!
Arlette says:

November 1, 2009 at 7:58 am

Thank you so much for this. I have a really really hard time in this area. The things I have done haunt me all the time. It is almost like I used to be another person and I hate that person. I live every day with the scars and the consequences. I pray always that I would forgive myself but I cannot seem to stop remembering and hating myself for what I have done. I know His love is beyond my understanding as is His forgiveness. I rejoice that I am not that person anymore. I don’t know how to get past the guilt but I continue to pray that His will for me, in mind and body, be done.
Thank you again and God bless.