A young woman sat in the church pew, her head in her hands. She had made a terrible mistake, and she knew that she had to confess it. But she was afraid. She was afraid of what people would think of her. She was afraid of being judged.
But she knew that she couldn’t keep living with this secret. She had to tell someone. So she took a deep breath and stood up. She walked up to the front of the church and knelt down at the altar.
“Father,” she said, “I have something to confess.”
And she told him everything. She told him about the mistake she had made. She told him about the guilt she had been feeling.
The priest listened patiently. When she was finished, he said, “My child, I know that you are sorry for what you have done. And I know that you are afraid. But I want you to know that God loves you. He loves you no matter what you have done. And he is willing to forgive you.”
The young woman’s eyes filled with tears. “Really?” she asked. “Can he really forgive me?”
“Yes,” the priest said. “He can and he will. All you have to do is ask for his forgiveness.”
The young woman took a deep breath. “Father,” she said, “I ask for God’s forgiveness.”
The priest smiled. “Your sins are forgiven,” he said. “Now, go in peace and sin no more.”
The young woman stood up and hugged the priest. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you for forgiving me.”
She walked out of the church, feeling a weight lifted off her shoulders. She knew that she was forgiven, and she knew that she could start over.
The young woman went on to live a good life. She never forgot the lesson she learned that day: that God is always willing to forgive those who are truly sorry for their sins.
This story is an inspiration to us all. It reminds us that no matter what we have done, God is always willing to forgive us. All we have to do is ask for his forgiveness. So if you are carrying around a burden of guilt, don’t be afraid to ask for forgiveness. God loves you and he wants to help you.
“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
Hebrews 8:12