I’ve done too many horrible things. Could God possibly forgive me?

Ezekiel 18:22“All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done.”

Matthew 18:21-22Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!”

Ephesians 1:7He [God] is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

No matter how terrible our past or how many sins we have committed, God will forgive us if we approach him with an attitude of humble sincerity and confess our sins. To think that some of our sins are too bad to be forgiven is to minimize the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection on our behalf.

Psalm 51:11-13, 16-17Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. . . . You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

God’s grace is greater than our failures. Temptation only wins when it keeps us from turning back to God. No matter how often we fail and move away from him, God welcomes us back. Recovery begins when we return to God. He promises to forgive us, help us start over, and give us joy.