By Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “How could I have done that?”
Maybe it was a decision you regret, a moment of weakness or some (or a bunch of) careless words.
I want you to hear this clearly: What you did is NOT who you are.
That’s not just a comforting phrase; it’s a truth rooted in the gospel.
The Bible says you are body, soul and spirit.
And only one of those—your spirit—is the real, eternal you.
When you trusted in Jesus, your spirit was washed, justified and sanctified (1 Corinthians 6:11).
That means your worst moment doesn’t define you. It doesn’t follow you into eternity. It doesn’t even get to write your present identity.
Embracing this is crucial toward forgiving yourself.
I know forgiving yourself can feel harder than accepting God’s forgiveness.
But here’s something powerful. …
As I explored in my last blog, studies show that saying “I forgive myself” actually calms the guilt reflex in the brain.
It’s not about making excuses or letting yourself off the hook.
It’s about agreeing with God’s verdict: It is finished!
You are not your mistake. You are not your failure. You are not your past. You are who God says you are—forgiven, loved and made new.
So today, I invite you to say it out loud: “What I did is NOT who I am.”
May that truth begin to rewrite the story you’ve been telling yourself.
If this resonates with you, I encourage you to check out my audio series, Good News & Good Advice. It includes 5 grace-fueled tips, including:
- How to Forgive Yourself
- How to Feel Like You Belong
- How to Heal the Fear of Rejection
- How to Be (More) Likable
- How to Forgive Others
This month, get the entire series for your donation of any amount.