My friend, I can sense the weight of guilt and shame you're carrying. As a pastor, I've seen many people struggle with unforgiveness, and it's not just towards others, but also towards themselves. You're right, forgiveness is not just about others apologizing, but also about taking responsibility for our own actions. When we can't forgive ourselves, it's like we're holding onto a heavy burden that's hard to shake off.
But here's the thing, my friend. God's forgiveness is not just about us, but also about our relationship with Him. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we're not just forgiven for our sins, but we're also adopted into God's family. We're given a new identity, a new purpose, and a new future. And with that comes the power to forgive ourselves, not because we're perfect, but because we're forgiven. We're given the gift of grace, which is the divine miracle of forgiveness.
So, I want to encourage you to take a step back and look at the cross. Remember the price that Jesus paid for our sins. He died on the cross, not just for others, but also for you. And in that moment, He took your story of misery upon Himself and gave you His story of resurrection and hope. That's the power of forgiveness, my friend. It's not just about us, but about the love and sacrifice of Jesus. And with that, we can forgive ourselves, not because we're perfect, but because we're forgiven.