As We Forgive Ourselves
“…as far as the east is from the west, so far He removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12
Having touched on forgiveness in general, the need to seek forgiveness by saying “I am sorry” and the need to forgive others by extending mercy, we have one more “directional” imperative to consider: forgiving ourselves.
That concept may seem a bit out of place. If we have sought forgiveness from God, is it not God’s business and not ours to forgive? Well, yes and no. God does seek to forgive and God does forgive. As noted in the Psalm above, God’s forgiveness takes our wrongdoing and flings it as far as the East is from the West. If we are earnest and give our sins to God, God wipes them away. We may still have to live with the consequences of our sins, but God will not hold them over us, but just because God has forgiven us, that does not mean we have forgiven ourselves.
Guilt is a helpful tool at times. It can bring us to our knees pleading for the mercy of God when we need it, but once God has forgiven us, we need to let go of our guilt. If it sticks around, it is not of God. It can drive us down into despair, into a feeling of unworthiness such that we do not even want to be in the presence of God.
One of my closest friends, a psychiatrist, was having lunch with a colleague who was the administrator of an inpatient mental health facility. He told my friend, “You know, if I could ever get two messages into the psyche and heart of each of these patients, I could release most of them today: you are forgiven and you are loved.”
“Forgive us our sins, as we forgive ourselves” is perhaps the last step we take in dealing with our personal sin and its traveling companion, guilt. However, there is another good reason to learn to accept God’s forgiveness. We will also learn to spend less time on how “I” feel all the time, and more time on how others feel. Accepting forgiveness allows us to be more merciful to others.
Forgive us our sins, as we seek forgiveness, as we forgive others and as we forgive ourselves. What has God chosen to do with the sin we have brought to Him for forgiveness? God has forgiven us. Why should we not do the same?
Another Step…
Take some time and reflect on God’s forgiveness. Receive it, not just for a moment, but for all the days ahead.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you taught us to forgive others, just as you forgave those who treated you badly. Help us to remember how much you have forgiven us and to be willing to forgive those who hurt us. For your sake, Amen.
A children’s prayer[1]
[1] Edna and Jack Young, “Praying with Juniors” (Surrey, UK: National Christian Education Council, 1968).
