By Commissioner Colleen Riley
You Are Forgiven
There’s a quiet ache many women carry—regret, guilt, shame, or the lingering echo of past mistakes. Sometimes it hides behind smiles, sometimes it leaks out in tears we can’t explain. We ask questions in the dark: Can I really be forgiven? Does Jesus still love me, even after what I’ve done?
The beautiful, resounding answer of Scripture is: Yes. You are forgiven by Jesus. Fully. Freely. Forever. In John 8, we meet a woman dragged into the public square, accused of adultery. The Pharisees don’t even see her as a person—just a pawn to trap Jesus. But Jesus sees her. He looks beyond her shame and into her soul. While others are ready to condemn, Jesus stoops down and writes in the dust. Then, He speaks these words – “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” — John 8:7 (ESV)
One by one, the accusers drop their stones and leave. And Jesus turns to her—not with judgment, but with grace. “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” — John 8:11 (ESV) Jesus didn’t ignore her sin. But He didn’t define her by it either. He offered forgiveness and a new beginning.
Many women struggle to believe they are truly forgiven. Maybe you’ve thought things like:
- I knew better – how could God forgive that?
- I’ve asked for forgiveness so many times; sure God is tired of me.
- My past is too dark for light to reach it.
But forgiveness isn’t about how bad your sin is—it’s about how good Jesus is. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
God’s forgiveness isn’t weak or partial. It’s full, faithful, and backed by the blood of Jesus. When we confess, He doesn’t hold our sins over us—He wipes them away.
One of the hardest truths to grasp is this: you don’t have to earn God’s forgiveness. Jesus already earned it for you. On the cross, He bore the weight of every sin—past, present, and future. And His final words were not “Do better,” but: “It is finished.” — John 19:30 (ESV)
That’s not a whisper of resignation—it’s a declaration of victory. Your forgiveness is finished, not earned. The debt is paid. The punishment is taken. You are not defined by what you’ve done, but by what Jesus has done for you.
Forgiveness isn’t just a gift for your soul—it’s also freedom for your life. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” — Romans 8:1 (ESV)
Guilt chains us to the past. Shame silences our voice. But forgiveness breaks those chains. You don’t have to walk through life burdened by your past. Jesus sets you free—free to love, to live, to serve, to smile again.
Maybe you’re still carrying a secret, or a wound, or a memory that makes you wince. Maybe you’ve tried to bury it, but it keeps resurfacing. Friend, bring it to Jesus. He already knows. And He’s already paid for it. “As far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12 (ESV)
God doesn’t just forgive—He forgets. He doesn’t file your sins away in a drawer marked “Maybe again.” He removes them, completely and permanently.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting your story. Your past may still carry scars. But scars are a sign of healing, not shame. They remind you where you’ve been—and how faithful Jesus has been to bring you through.
Forgiveness doesn’t erase consequences, but it does restore relationship. You are no longer an outsider, trying to earn God’s favor. You are a beloved daughter, welcomed into His arms.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” — Ephesians 1:7 (ESV)
So how do we live as women who are truly forgiven?
- Believe it. Don’t let feelings be your guide—let God’s Word be your anchor. When guilt whispers, remind yourself: I am forgiven, because Jesus said so.
- Confess and move forward. When you sin, don’t hide. Run to Jesus. Confess it and then walk in freedom. The enemy wants you stuck in cycles of shame—but Jesus wants you walking in victory.
- Forgive others. Forgiven people forgive people. When you realize how much you’ve been forgiven, it changes how you treat others. Let grace flow through you.
- Tell your story. There’s power in your testimony. Don’t be afraid to say, I was broken, but Jesus forgave me. I was lost, but He found me. Your story might be someone else’s lifeline.
Dear sister, you are not your past. You are not your failure. You are not your shame. In Christ, you are forgiven, free, and fully loved.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” — 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Walk in that truth today. You don’t need to carry what Jesus already nailed to the cross. You are forgiven. And that changes everything.
August 2025 Craft: Mosaic Cross