Biblical Answer

The Difficulty of Self-Forgiveness

Many of us struggle with the idea of forgiving ourselves, especially when we feel that we have failed in a significant way, such as losing a business. This can be a particularly challenging situation, as we may feel that we have let others down, including ourselves. The Bible teaches us that God forgives us, but we often struggle with forgiving ourselves. This is because we tend to view ourselves as superior to others, and we may feel that we would never make the same mistakes again. However, this attitude of superiority can actually hinder our ability to forgive ourselves, as it creates a sense of pride and self-righteousness.

The Nature of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is not just about feeling good or getting rid of negative emotions; it is a process of releasing the hold that sin has on us. It is not about forgetting what happened, but rather about not holding someone's (or our own) sin against them. Forgiveness is a choice that we must make, and it requires humility and a willingness to let go of our pride. The Bible teaches us that forgiveness is not just about God forgiving us, but also about us forgiving ourselves and others. In fact, Jesus taught that we must forgive others as we have been forgiven by God (Matthew 6:14-15). This means that forgiveness is not just a one-time event, but rather a process that we must continue to work on throughout our lives.

The Power of God's Forgiveness

The good news is that God's forgiveness is available to us, no matter what we have done. The Bible teaches us that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). This means that we can be forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God, even if we have failed in significant ways. However, this forgiveness does not change the fact that we have made mistakes or failed in some way. Rather, it provides us with the opportunity to learn from our mistakes and to grow as individuals. As we learn to forgive ourselves and others, we can begin to heal and move forward in a positive way. Ultimately, forgiveness is not just about getting rid of negative emotions, but about being restored to a right relationship with God and others.