Redemption Is Possible: What To Do When We Make Mistakes

 

“Change begins at the end of your comfort zone.”—Roy T. Bennett

What should we do when we make a mistake? How do we correct our wrongs? Since the past cannot be changed, undone, or reversed, we must learn how to shift our focus from the past and concentrate on repairing, restoring, and redeeming ourselves in the present and the future. We must take intentional action to heal hurtful things we've said or done.

Redemption begins with first taking full responsibility for our actions. We cannot make excuses for any challenges we’ve endured, even the ones that happened beyond our control. The only way to be free from guilt is by accepting that consequences are the results of our own actions. Denying, trivializing, or minimizing the pain we cause only delays our liberation from the prison of shame. No one forces us to do bad things. Taking ownership means the power is in our hands to change and redeem ourselves.

We must also forgive ourselves. We must release the negative emotions and thoughts associated with our mistakes. This isn’t a one-time action. The truth is that it takes spiritual work to continually fight the negative feelings that try to rise and steal our peace. Every day, say aloud the following affirmation: I think, say, and do good things. My mistakes don’t define me. I use my power to inspire, empower and enrich every life I encounter, including my own.

Again, it is critical that we don’t meditate on our mistakes. We cannot reverse them—we can’t undo them. Mentally waddling on our wrongdoing doesn’t change or improve anything. However, the most important thing we can do is spend our time and effort doing good by enriching, empowering, protecting, and inspiring others.

While people might try to remind us of past mistakes, we must be diligent about being so different in the present and future that our good is far greater than the bad. People have a right not to forget; we have a choice to move toward a better future anyway. The people who criticize, condemn, and judge us aren’t perfect either. We must not squander our time trying to convince people that we are different—just be that way. We must commit to engaging ourselves in educational and rehabilitative programs as well as reading and learning about how to grow and how to constructively transform our lives.  

If you are wondering if redemption is possible, be reminded that people like Maya Angelou, Darrion Crockwell, Malcolm X, Khalid Karim, and Luis Godoy started new lives after making big mistakes. And, there are thousands more people who used courage, determination, hard work and faith to become stories of hope. 

Most importantly, we must renew our mind daily through a personal relationship with God. He is more forgiving than our closest friend. He is merciful and compassionate. He knows our heart like no other and He is the only one who should be our judge. Therefore, we must pray to our Heavenly Father for strength and wisdom to become a good and faithful servant, and an example of divine redemption.

With love,

C. Chérie Hardy

Listen to a special podcast with Khalid Karim who changed his life after spending 25 years in prison. https://anchor.fm/cherie-hardy/episodes/Khalid-Karims-Song-of-Triumph-Lessons-on-Redemption-e1ba1pv

Copyright © 2021 by C. Chérie Hardy