Hi.
I’ve done a lot of bad things recently. I haven’t done things against other people, but against God. I’ve asked Him to forgive me, and I know He does. The problem is that I still have a bad conscience afterwards, sometimes lasting for several days. This is really hard to bear, and I’ve asked God to take away my bad conscience. It might also be shame.
What should I do?
Hi, thanks for your question.
There are lots of people who can identify with this sense that it can be hard to get rid of a bad conscience and the feeling of shame, even after you’ve prayed and asked God to forgive you. A lot of people punish themselves for days afterwards, when they’ve done something they shouldn’t have.
What can you do to get rid of having a bad conscience, and the shame? The answer lies in what you choose to focus on, and which thoughts you ponder on. The Bible says that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous and He forgives us our sin and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). When you’ve asked God to forgive you, instead of being ashamed of what you’ve done, you can focus on what Jesus has done for you on the cross. Thank Him for the fact that He forgave and cleansed you, until you believe the truth of what God thinks of you. When God has forgiven you, you should also forgive yourself, although this might be hard to do.
You can also read: How can I forgive myself?
If you struggle with this sin again and again, we would like to remind you that the best thing to do is to go to God again and again. If you stay away from God because you feel ashamed and have a bad conscience, then you lose contact with the only One who can help you! At the same time, it’s tiring for you to keep on disappointing yourself and having a sense of shame and defeat. This is why you should find out how to avoid getting into the same situation again and again. The Bible talks about this in Romans chapters 5 and 6.
It is hard for us to help you practically in this situation, as we know so little about you and what you are struggling with. If you have the opportunity, it could be good for you to talk to a counsellor, or a Christian leader who you know. When you confess, read the Bible (1 John 2:1–2; Romans 8:1), and pray with someone, then both the confession and God’s promises feel more real. Then you can talk about what can help you have victory the next time you feel tempted.
God wants you to rest in Him, He doesn’t want you to go round with a bad conscience and guilt. ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28).
Best wishes, boyandgirl.info