Dear Daisy,
I need someone to tell me the truth about forgiveness. Growing up in a strict church and with strict parents, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. There was no way I could meet all the expectations and rules enforced on me. Any opportunity I found to rebel, I took it. I have spent my life running from Jesus and His rules wanting to do things my way instead, only to discover I’m more miserable than I’ve ever been. In low moments when I’ve been drawn to turn back to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness, I’m led to believe that Jesus won’t forgive me. I’m consumed with guilt and shame for my sins and don’t know what to do. Is there any hope for me? ~ Signed, Seeking forgiveness
Dear Seeking forgiveness,
So glad you reached out for God’s truth, not man’s; it’s time to unlearn the lies you have been taught. You might be surprised how many people have walked in your shoes before you. The good news about that is you are not alone and there is hope for you also.
Grab your Bible and be ready to study some key scriptures to get the truth straight from God’s Holy Word. Don’t take my word for it, test it, check the scriptures yourself (1Thessalonians 5:21). Scripture in the Holy Bible breathed by God (1Timothy 3:16-17) says that you can call out to God and he will hear you (Psalms 120:1), even if you have sinned and spent your life running from Him. Jesus says He leaves the 99 to go find the 1 lost sheep, then He and all of Heaven rejoices when the lost one is found (Matthew 18:12-14). Those verses alone should give you great hope!
He is looking for YOU!
All throughout scripture we are taught that God loves a humble heart. Whenever someone repents, He turns to them and forgives. It is not God who walks away after that forgiveness, it is the person who is not yet ready to commit to following Him wholeheartedly. He knows those who will turn from their sin and those who are determined to repeat it. That doesn’t stop Him from forgiving you. He forgives you 70×7 (Matthew 18). He loves you. Humble yourself before Him, repent, and cling to Him not letting go no matter what.
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2Chronicles 7:14
“All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.”
Isaiah 66:2
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:2
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience”
Colossians 3:12
He knows what you have done and He is still waiting for you to turn to Him. If you will repent, He will forgive you of your sins. The key is to not turn back to your sins again; stay with Him and let Him teach and guide you in the way you should walk (Psalms 32:8). There will still be consequences for your sins, but you are forgiven and He will be with you through your consequences. It is good for us to have consequences because they teach us and remind us why we don’t want to sin again. If there were no consequences for sin, we would have no reason not to repeat them. Eyes on Jesus, not on your past. Follow Him.
While we must learn from our sins, God does not take pleasure in the death of wicked people. He seeks after us hoping that we will turn to Him and away from our sinful lives (Ezekiel 33:11). For those who told you that you couldn’t be forgiven because of your sins, they were not speaking God’s truth. He would not have told us to seek Him for repentance if He couldn’t be found (Isaiah 45:19).
When you turn to Jesus from your pit of despair it should be with a repentant heart, with tears, sorrow and grief as you humble yourself and ask for forgiveness (James 4:9-10). If you are sincere in your repentance and choose to start following Him wholeheartedly, whatever that may look like for you, He will forgive and protect as He teaches you His ways (Lamentations 3:40-41). God will not be mocked; He knows if you are sincere or if you are just trying to get help out of a current circumstance with no intention of permanently turning away from sin.
“Many are the torments of the wicked,
but grace surrounds those who trust in Adonai.
Be glad in Adonai; rejoice, you righteous!
Shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
Psalms 32:10-11
When you trust in Jesus with all your heart, you will be wanting to shout with joy at the indescribable peace and joy you find in a deep relationship with Him. God does not give us impossible rules as a way to control His followers (Deuteronomy 4:29-31). He gives us possible commands to live by to keep us safe and protected. What most have been taught who grew up in church are man-made rules and doctrines that are impossible to follow. When you study God’s Holy Bible from cover to cover, you find that it’s NOTHING like what you were taught. When Jesus says His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30), that means that His ways are doable as He walks with you every step. In church, most were taught man’s ways, not Jesus’ ways; man’s ways are harsh, strict and unforgiving.
In closing, always ask Jesus what you should do in every situation. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you. If it’s not okay with Him, He will check your spirit and you will have an uneasy feeling and doubt about going forward. Always follow Jesus; NOT your heart; our hearts are fickle and can’t be trusted. Listen to the Holy Spirit; He is trying to protect you. You have a choice to obey or ignore. Choose to obey and stay under His protection.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
Jeremiah 17:9
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.“
Proverbs 3:5
“When you know you grow!”