Ask - Forgiveness Through the Psalms

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2, NLT)

“Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” (Psalm 32:5, NLT)

“But I confess my sins; I am deeply sorry for what I have done.” (Psalm 38:18, NLT)

Forgiveness is a decision. But forgiveness is also a process. Where do we begin when asking for forgiveness?

Well, first we must begin with remorse. In order to authentically receive forgiveness, we must be genuinely sorry for what we have done or who we have hurt.

We must feel the magnitude and weight of our sin. This is a good thing. God does not bring us face- to-face with our sin to shame or condemn us. As the apostle Paul writes, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1-2, NIV). Instead, when we face our sin, we see God’s holiness—and how much we are forgiven. We long to be made right through relationship with him.

After expressing remorse, we must commit to recourse. We are enabled to choose a new way of life. In the Scriptures, this is referred to as repentance.

In Greek, to repent is the word metanoeō, and it means to turn around or to go another direction. Receiving forgiveness from someone we’ve hurt, wounded, or upset should motivate us to change. If not, we are not loving our neighbor as ourselves. Instead, the cycle of hurt will only be prolonged.

To repent—to turn around—is actionable. Recourse means taking responsibility for the ways we’ve fallen short and intentionally choosing to live differently.

If repentance is present, then recommitment is necessary.

In our journey of forgiveness, there will come a time when temptation to return to our old ways surfaces. It’s in those moments that we must regularly recommit to the new way of life that we have chosen. Daily, we surrender our pride, pick up our cross, and follow Jesus.

Humility is at the heart of forgiveness. We forgive because we have been forgiven. When we receive undeserved forgiveness from others, it is only possible because God gave each of us undeserved forgiveness himself.

Embracing forgiveness can’t be done alone, however. Community is central.

The boat you’re rowing isn’t powerful enough to go upstream in the river that is our world. We have to be willing to get into the boat with others and—by the power of the Holy Spirit—row together for the sake of authentic witness of the gospel—the good news of Jesus Christ—to the world.

Lastly, in asking for and receiving forgiveness, we must restore trust and credibility. The only currency we have in this part of the process is time.

Forgiveness can be instant. Trust and healing happen gradually.

Restoration takes place one piece—one day—at a time. Look for daily invitations to rebuild trust with the person you have hurt. Days, weeks, and months after they’ve forgiven you, they still need and deserve to be shown that you care for and love them. Our actions must match our words.

If this sounds difficult, it is. But it’s necessary. And it’s good, true, and beautiful.

So, if you find yourself in the wrong today, don’t wait. Ask God to reveal the ways you’ve fallen short, and express remorse. Then choose to go a different way. Recommit to this new way of life. And as you live into the “new creation” that you are, ask God to restore what has been broken and make it whole.