There are many burdens in life. There are financial burdens, burdens of sickness, relationship burdens. Another kind of burden is the guilt for wrongdoing. With other burdens, there are things you can do to bring relief to yourself. You can go out and get an extra job, you can take vitamins or see a doctor, you can have conversations and make intentional connections, but what can you do to relieve your conscience when you have done wrong? The one and only remedy for this kind of burden is forgiveness.

We cannot live a joyful, prosperous life if we have a constant cloud of guilt hanging over our heads. Guilt wears us out, shuts us down, destroys our vision for the future. Whenever I used to do something wrong, I would find myself spending a lot of time playing my sins over and over in my head, condemning myself for the wicked or stupid things I have done, and it blocked my ability to move forward or live freely in the moment.

If you have experienced this, I want you to know that there is a solution. The only thing that can set us free from the feelings of guilt and shame are the forgiveness of God. God is the one we are ultimately accountable to. He is the one with the power of judgement toward life or death, of our eternal sentencing to Hell or entrance into Heaven. The good news is that He is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (Psalm 145:8-9) He is willing to forgive every sin you've ever committed, great or small. He is willing to wipe away your feelings of guilt and shame.

To receive this forgiveness, however, you must humble yourself before God. You have to turn from the sins that were once your death sentence, and follow the God and His commands that bring life. You must throw yourself on the mercy of God and let Him turn you into a new creature. It is my prayer that you would do that today. Call out to God. Admit your sin. Accept that Jesus died to pay for your sins and accept the free gift of eternal life that He offers you. Live for Him. Follow Him. Let His forgiveness fuel your future.

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