Do you beat yourself up over past mistakes? I think we all do at some point. Check out this post for five reminders that have helped me.
I have a theory: Most Christians, at one time or another in our lives, can’t get over our past sins. Whether they were minor or major—before salvation or after—we struggle to accept our inability to change our past mistakes.
We feel especially ashamed of those sins committed after salvation. This is a big one for me. I mean, I got saved at eight. Practically my whole life has been lived after my salvation.
I should’ve known.
And then comes the mind trail. You know the one. In a life-flashes-before-your-eyes-kind-of-way we imagine the positive direction our lives could’ve taken without even that one mistake.
Didn’t date that person. Choose that major. All the things.
Yep. Life would be somewhere close to perfect probably.
Closer to God.
More successful.
Insert eye roll. But you know what I’m talking about! That stupid mind trail.
Well, I’m tired of it, and I’m convinced that we don’t have to fall into those traps anymore. We can find relief from the what-ifs. My mindset about past mistakes has changed in a big way lately. No major epiphanies or anything. Just sweet little reminders.
I’m not “cured” by any means. These things just seem to circle ‘round, but I do have ammunition to prepare me for the next go.
But First
I think before we can get down to business, a couple of things should be addressed first. Or at least a couple of questions asked and answered. We have to ask ourselves:
#1 – Is the sin actually in the past?
Before we get started really addressing past sins and mistakes, we have to honestly ask ourselves if they are indeed past. It does no good to try and forgive ourselves of something ongoing, because that’s a current issue and conviction is rightly causing the discomfort. If that’s the problem, better get right on it—pronto.
#2 – Have we confessed to God and asked forgiveness?
Once we’re sure our sin is in the past, we must ask ourselves if we ever confessed and sought forgiveness for that sin from God and anyone else affected by it.
Reminders for When Past Mistakes Haunt You
#1 – We make mistakes.
For real. I’m sure this is news to you. Kidding, but we all know that somehow it’s easy to forget we’re not perfect as we berate ourselves.
Being a child of God doesn’t somehow make us immune to sin.
We make mistakes. And one thing’s for sure: we’re gonna make more.
#2 – We haven’t been asked to be perfect.
God’s not surprised by our mistakes. He never asked us to be perfect, because He knows we can’t.
#3 – Maybe, even with all our mistakes, we’re right where God wants us.
It blows my mind to think of this, but I know the God I serve uses all situations for His purpose. He is God. He is the Keeper of Time. And He is the Great Author who somehow weaves the intended ending with each imperfect character—and our mistakes.
#4 – This is what it’s all about.
The whole point of everything is that we can’t be perfect. That’s why God sent His Son to cover us with His own perfect life—to give us a gift we could never earn ourselves.
And through our many weaknesses and flaws the love and power of God shines like the North Star to those who don’t know Him yet.
It can bring a certain measure of comfort to remember we’ve never been asked to be perfect. We’ve all made mistakes. We’ll make more mistakes. But we don’t have to wallow in the guilt and shame of our past mistakes.
What helps you put your past mistakes behind you? Let me know in the comments below.
Just in case you want a little more reading on the subject…
- Dealing with Guilt: My Simple Steps from HISsparrowBlog
- 6 Steps to Shed False Guilt from HISsparrowBlog
- 5 Insidious Lies I Won’t Believe Anymore from HISsparrowBlog
I frequently link up with the following: Grace & Truth with Embracing the Unexpected, Tell His Story with Jeanne Takenaka, and Let’s Have Coffee with Joanne Viola.
