When you’ve done wrong and it’s altered life, wrecked relationships, and can’t be undone, guilt comes. It suffocates and steals joy. Guilt presses you down into despair. 

What do you need to forgive yourself for? What careless comment did you spew or destructive deed did you do that changed your life? 

King David knew his multilayered answer to that question: An affair. A drunken cover-up. A carefully planned and concocted murder. David ran from the responsibility of what he did until confronted by God’s prophet: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).

David acknowledged his sin without excuse. God forgave him, and here’s the key part: God forgave the guilt of his sin. 

I’m guessing you’ve confessed to Jesus that big, ugly sin you committed, likely apologizing many times over. Why are you apologizing again for something God already forgave? It’s forgiven and forever removed! 

You keep apologizing and don’t feel forgiven . . . the guilt remains . . . because you haven’t forgiven yourself.

When the devil attacks with memories of what you did—and he will because it works—tell off the devil with these words: “Devil, I’m forgiven. That’s not me anymore! I’m forgiven by God, and I forgive myself.” Treat yourself with the same grace and goodness that God gives you. For God has forgiven even the guilt of your sin.