Many a person has deflected criticism by shouting their mea culpas so loudly no one dares say anything that might sound like criticism. They use their mea culpas to fend off any criticism.

Right? I’m sure you’ve run into people like that. They’re always putting themselves down about something but never make any changes in their life to quit that “something”.

But then there are others who are actually harder on themselves than even God. These people, however, are not likely to voice this. They keep their self-condemnation to themselves and no one knows.

Are you like those people, harder on yourself than God?

Proverbs 19:11 states:

A person’s wisdom yields patience;
    it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

If you’re wondering how the above verse proves my point, it’s this:

Did you notice that there is nothing that says that person can’t be you? In other words, we are to give ourselves a break as well.

Most of us find it in our hearts to forgive others (eventually) but find it almost impossible to forgive ourselves (ever). And especially when it comes to depression. We think there must be something wrong with us to be depressed. Some sin we may have committed. Otherwise, why would we be depressed?

But, remember, depression is not a sin. Read that post, here.

I’m not suggesting, however, that we casually overlook our sins.

Hardly.

But what I am suggesting is that once we confess, seek forgiveness, and sincerely try to do better, we can let it go. Yes, we may have to suffer some consequences of our actions. After all, there are always consequences of whatever we do, good or bad.

Our actions may mean the demise of a friendship or worse, a marriage. But no matter how serious the infraction, we have to forgive ourselves if we want to move on.

Sometimes that is the hardest thing for us to do after we’ve done something wrong. We tend to be our own harshest critics, beating ourselves up long after others have forgiven us. Yes, we are to repent when we are in the wrong but the Bible also reminds us that it’s important to learn from our mistakes and move on.

If you are harboring such thoughts towards yourself you are making your depression worse. You are keeping yourself in your own prison of unforgiveness.

Can you let it go and give yourself a break? I certainly hope so.

God bless and have a good day.

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