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Why Would God Forgive Me?

Sometimes we believe we've finally done it—we've failed God so badly that he'll never forgive us. But God tells us over and over that his mercy is much bigger than our worst mistakes. And that's just what these three students discovered when they turned to God's Word for comfort and reassurance.

Always Forgiving
Who is a God like you, who pardons sins and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight in showing mercy. (Micah 7:18-19)

When I read these verses, I get a mental picture of God pushing my sins off a cliff, where they'll never be seen again. What a great God!

God doesn't want anyone to sin, but he knows we will. That's why he provided a way for us to have complete forgiveness through his son Jesus. And he not only gives us a way out, he's excited about forgiving us. The Bible says he delights in showing us mercy.

If you're like me and you sometimes wonder if God can really forgive, remember that God will always forgive us when we sincerely ask him to. —Merry

What about You?

1) How does it feel to be forgiven? Why do you think God wants to forgive us?

2) Look around your room. What are some of the things that delight you—you know, that really make you happy? Next time you ask for forgiveness, think of that feeling of delight; it's just a tiny glimpse of the delight God feels when he shows mercy toward you.

3) Thank God for his never-ending forgiveness.

There's nothing worse than knowing you've messed up in a big way. You feel stupid, you feel guilty, you feel sick to your stomach. At least that's how I felt when I cheated on my boyfriend by going out with someone else.

I don't know what I was thinking. I really cared about my boyfriend, but I cheated on him anyway. And I felt horrible about it. I hurt him, I hurt the other guy, and I hurt myself. I got myself into a huge mess, and I didn't know how I would ever get out of it.

I wish I would have read Psalm 69 then. It would have helped me see that I could lean on God and he'd be there for me, even though I was in major trouble. God could have comforted me and given me the strength to try and make things right with my boyfriend.

The next time I mess up—and I'm sure there will be a next time—I'll know I can talk to God about it.
—Cristina

What about You?

1) Think about a time you were in big trouble. How did God help you get through that time?

2) Turn in your Bible to Psalm 69 and read verses 1-5 and 13-18. Rewrite those verses in your own words.

3) Thank God for always being there for you to talk to.

Sometimes I'm afraid to tell God about my sins and ask for forgiveness because I'm afraid of his punishment. But I don't have to be afraid. No matter what I do, God's ready to forgive me. He wants me to come to him with all my problems and sins because he loves me so much. I can tell him everything, and he'll forgive and comfort me.

God's love is so much greater than we can even understand. His love is deep and pure. It's the best love we will ever experience. And he doesn't just love us, he rejoices over us. He's excited about having a relationship with us. And he wants us to love him too.
—Tyler

What about You?

1) Have you ever wanted to hide from God? What happened when you finally confessed to God?

2) Make a list of the ways God shows his love to you.

3) Confess your sins to God. Be honest and open with him as you ask for forgiveness.

God's Forgiveness Other passages to read and study • Psalm 51:1-17 prayer for forgiveness • Psalm 103:12 sins taken far, far away • Psalm 136 lasting love guaranteed • Isaiah 1:18 all cleaned up • Isaiah 43:25 sins forgiven—and forgotten • Jeremiah 50:20 guilty no more • John 8:1-11 forgiveness in action • Ephesians 1:7 the riches of God's grace • Colossians 2:13-14 sins canceled • 1 John 1:9 promise of forgiveness Try This! Write about each passage in a journal or notebook. Here are some ideas to help you get started: 1) How can this passage help you understand God's love and forgiveness? 2) What are three questions you have about the passage? Write down your own answers, then as a Christian friend or your youth leader how they would answer. Write down their answers, too. 3) Write a poem, a song or a prayer that expresses your feelings about the passage. 4) Using the devotions in "Faith Builders" as a model, write your own devotion based on the passage. The devotions in this section were taken from The NIV Teen Devotional Bible (Zondervan). Featuring 260 devotions written by students, this Bible also offers help for personal and spiritual growth.

Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
March/April 2000, Vol. 58, No. 8, Page 10

Read more from 'Faith & Doubt'

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