Session 10: What About All My Mistakes?

Welcome back, everyone. Today we're going to talk about something every single person has: a past. There are probably things you're proud of, but there may also be things you wish you could go back and change. Something you said, someone you hurt, a lie you told, a relationship you damaged, or a decision you regret. Maybe it's something nobody else even knows about. We all make mistakes, but sometimes those mistakes stay with us and make us wonder, “If people really knew everything about me, would they still look at me the same way?”

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There's an important difference between guilt and shame. Guilt says, “I did something wrong.” Shame says, “There is something wrong with me.” Guilt can lead us to apologize, make things right, and change. Shame can convince us that we're permanently damaged. Christianity gives us a very different message: your worst moment does not have to define the rest of your life. One of the best examples is Peter, one of Jesus' closest followers. Peter promised he would never abandon Jesus, but when Jesus was arrested and Peter became afraid, he denied knowing Him three times. Imagine the guilt he must have felt.

But after Jesus rose from the dead, He didn't throw Peter away. Jesus forgave him, restored him, and gave him a purpose. Peter went from denying Jesus to becoming one of the great leaders of the early Church. His failure became part of his story, but it wasn't the end of his story. The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” — 1 John 1:9. Forgiveness doesn't mean pretending what we did wasn't wrong. It means admitting it, asking God for forgiveness, making things right where we can, and choosing a different direction.

So here's your challenge today. Ask yourself: “What am I carrying that I need God's forgiveness for?” Be honest, and then say: “Jesus, I'm sorry for what I've done. Please forgive me, help me make things right, and help me change.” If you've hurt someone, maybe your next step is simply saying, “I was wrong. I'm sorry.” You cannot change yesterday, but with God's help, yesterday doesn't have to determine tomorrow. Christianity isn't about pretending you've never fallen. It's about discovering that when you fall, God can help you get back up. Next time, we're going to tackle another big question: Does Christianity just mean following a bunch of rules?