"I can never forgive myself," she said. "Every time I think about it, I get sick to my stomach."
I knew that feeling. I had felt it through my own failures and shortcomings.
And I also knew I could help her, because I know that sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself.
The partial truth about us is hard to accept: We are flawed. We hurt those we love. We fail to step in when others need us most. We do wrong--and we need forgiveness. From others, from God, but also from ourselves.
But the "full" truth about us is liberating and freeing: While we are more deeply flawed than we can imagine, we also are far more valuable and cherished than we can comprehend. To reach the place where we can forgive ourselves, we must recognize and embrace this life-changing truth. Our flawed nature is more than matched by the overwhelming, remarkable, and unsurpassed value that God ascribes to us. The gift of God's welcome, His embrace, and His acceptance is the truth that frees us from self-blame, guilt, and shame. And embracing this certainty is the healing balm that takes the sting out of our past mistakes and brings true self-forgiveness.
In this practical, inspiring book, Dr. Everett Worthington weaves his own story of struggling with his brother's suicide and his overwhelming feelings of regret, together with psychological insight, scientific research, and biblical truth. He identifies six steps to forgiving yourself and opens a clear path to freedom from self-condemnation to self-acceptance and most importantly, to the full life that Christ promises.
