Let it go…and Forgive Yourself.

We all make mistakes.

It’s a pitfall of being human.

There are minor mistakes that we make when we are children and teenagers that we like to call “learning experiences”. The consequences aren’t very high. We learn from those mistakes and move on with our life. No harm done.

Then there are mistakes we make that take a lifetime to get over. Mistakes that have major consequences for ourselves or others. Mistakes that hurt others unintentionally, or intentionally. These mistakes have great impact and we have to live with it for the rest of our lives. And, sometimes we blame ourselves for another’s mistakes. As if we could have prevented their mistake.

Whatever the mistake, great or small, sometimes it takes time to forgive ourselves, even when we have already been forgiven. We may beat ourselves up over the situation. Dwelling on it. Playing the event out in our head, over and over. The mistake consumes us. Before long, we begin to believe that mistake defines us. We continue to punish ourselves for it.

We can’t let it go.

Forgiving others is easier than forgiving ourselves. Why is that?

The big question is how do we accept the mistakes we have made in the past? How do we stop punishing ourselves and let it go already? Where do we find hope and forgiveness?

The answer has been here all along. Forgiveness is a gift from God through Jesus Christ. God’s love is never defined by our past mistakes. He loves us no matter the mistakes. He gave us a way to let it go.

Repent from the heart and the slate is wiped clean. Simple.

Look what He did for a murderer named Moses. He turned Moses into a great and compassionate leader who lead the Israelites out of slavery. Paul, Matthew, David. The Bible is full of people who made mistakes but were forgiven anyway.

If He forgave those guys, He can do the same for you. Oh, wait. He already has.

Paul said, “I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13 (NLT).

Paul let it go.

Have you let it go? Or, have you been manipulated and controlled by your past mistakes?

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Take Paul’s advice. Forget the past and look forward to the future. Give it all to God. Confess your sins, wrongdoings, mistakes.

He has already forgiven you. Now, it’s time to forgive yourself. 

LINKING UP with Holley Gerth Coffee for Your Heart, because she rocks! Please click on over and read more ladies who rock with encouragement.