Pardon Me

Hold on tight; this one might be a little rough to read. 

Forgiveness does not mean that the offense did not occur. 

We know it did. 

We cannot obliterate the memory from our mind or go back in time to erase the mistake from existence, as much as we wish we could. 

We must face it head-on. We have to be honest with ourselves - no rationalizing or making excuses. 

We cannot hide in the darkness, shackled by the shadows of shame and fear. In our hidden despair, we sit and try to twist the truth or deny wrongdoing, secretly wondering when the jig will be up, and we will have to face the truth.

We must come into the light and be honest about what happened so we can seek and receive forgiveness.   

Forgiveness doesn't let us off the hook. But it does help us stop wrestling with the story as we ruminate in the darkness, punishing ourselves over and over.  

That's enough now.

Come into the light, my precious friend.  

It's Okay. You are not alone. God is with you, ready to listen and help you through this. Grab a box of tissues and let it ALL out. 

There is something so freeing when we remove that grungy gunk.

When light reveals what was hidden in the darkness for so long, our soul groans from deep within, " I was wrong. I am sorry. Forgive me. I beg of you."

One thing you can count on is that when you sincerely confess to God, His loving mercy is so mighty that it can pardon whatever you've done that you've had hidden in that dark, dusty corner of your soul.

That's right, He will pardon you. 

Officially forgiven. Punishment stopped. 

That doesn't mean the consequences disappear. God's pardon and forgiveness means that you can finally stop beating yourself about it in the darkness.  

Bring it out into the light. Confess the ugly truth, and sincerely repent for the hurt you may have caused. 

God will help make a way for you, and He'll be right by your side as you seek forgiveness from those you hurt. 

God loves you so much, even now. Especially now. 

God forgives you; remember that. 

Can you be brave and give them a chance to do the same?

I know you are ready to do this, and I am so proud of you!

Psalms 25:11 

For the sake of your name, Lord , forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Isaiah 55:7 

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

Psalms 123:3 

Have mercy on us, Lord , have mercy on us, for we have endured no end of contempt.

Ephesians 5:8

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.