Forgiving Myself: Learning to Receive God’s Grace

• By candidasullivan
• August 26, 2026
• No Comments

Who do I need to forgive, Lord?

Lately, I have felt stuck. Like I can’t fully get to where I want to be with my writing. While God is blessing me, I know there is more. More to be uncovered. More to explore. More to learn. But I’m not entirely sure how to get there. 

As I was listening to a podcast, the speaker said that sometimes unforgiveness blocks our gifts. Immediately, I paused the podcast and went to God. 

Who do I need to forgive, Lord? 

Since I had done this recently, I truly wasn’t sure where I was holding any unforgiveness. As part of my healing journey, I have been working on forgiveness. I want to let go of every resentment, grudge, or heartache. I don’t see any need to hold it one second longer. 

So, when the Lord replied with “you,” it shook me. 

I am harder on myself than anyone else. I get stuck on my weaknesses, faults, and failures and forget that God’s grace covers all those places. When I get stuck on those things, I can’t move forward. I start drowning in guilt, shame, fear, and the need to prove I am worthy. 

I hold on to my mistakes and let them keep hurting me. 

I hold on to my failures, and that keeps me from moving forward. 

I hold on to my fears, and they keep me from doing what God wants me to do.

Ephesians 2:8 KJV

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The enemy tries to make me think I have to do it all, be enough, and live perfectly. Anything less than that is unacceptable. But that’s not true. My salvation is not dependent on my sufficiency. It is God’s sufficiency. 

God forgave me. The blood of Jesus covered every sin and shortcoming. It took care of what I could never take care of myself. God saw the whole picture. He saw where I was weak, where I was afraid, where I didn’t know better—and even the places where I did know better and still failed.

And He offered me grace anyway.

So, I forgave myself. 

I pulled out everything the enemy has been using against me and took it to the Lord. The fear, guilt, doubt, shame, and need to control things beyond my control. 

Often God gives me grace, but I feel that I need to earn it. But God showed me something priceless in this scripture. 

Romans 11:6 KJV

⁶ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

If it is grace, I didn’t earn it.

If I earned it, it isn’t grace.

The enemy tries to make me feel as if I shouldn’t have any weaknesses and that I should walk through my days perfectly. And if I don’t, I lose God’s favor. But scripture tells me a different story. It tells me that I need grace continuously. In my weakness, I depend on God. I stop trying to do it all and let God work with me. 

I don’t obey so God will love me.
I obey because He loves me.

I don’t work to become worthy of grace.
Grace enables me to do the work.

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

My weaknesses, faults, and failures don’t scare God. He knows that His grace will cover each one. And when it does, I will see that He is the One who did the work and provided the blessing. 

Hebrews 4:16 KJV

¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We don’t have to struggle alone. I can continually receive God’s grace. And I can give up the need to prove myself. I can accept all that God wants to give me and allow God’s grace to cover me completely. 

I can give God my need to be:

Strong enough.

Good enough.

Productive enough.

Spiritual enough.

Successful enough.

Worthy enough.

Finally, I can stop trying to become enough and come to the One who is enough. I can pray, Lord, teach me to receive your grace fully. And when the enemy reminds me of who I have been, teach me to remember what Jesus has already done.