Have you ever gone through an episode, and began to wonder if He put you in this pain because of something you did in your past? You start to bring up every mistake you made before, and wonder if God brought this pain upon you because He wanted to punish that sin.
Do you remember what Peter said to Jesus the night He was arrested? He vowed to our Lord that he would never forsake him. But the Lord told him that three times later that night, Peter would deny him. And that was what happened. Peter went away when Jesus looked at Him that night, and wept bitterly. That is a famous story from the Bible, but something else happened that is not as well known. Something that really spoke to me about Jesus’s heart. Let me show you:
John 21:15-19 (New International Version): When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Why do you think Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loved Him? I realised some time later that it was because Peter denied him three times too. Jesus helped me rewrite that story of betrayal, and changed it into one of love.
That’s how He sees your mistakes too.
God is not someone glaring down at you from Heaven, with the eyes of an eagle. He is not looking out with a watchful eye to catch every sin you commit. He knows that the mistakes you made in your past made you feel terrible, and He cares for you. He is willing even to help you rewrite all those mistakes of your past. That’s how much He loves you. Let me show you another verse:
Romans 5:8 (New International Version): But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God did not die for the best version of you. He did not die for the version of you that had everything together. He knew all the horrible thoughts you had, and all the evil things you did. He knows every sin you committed, and He still chose to walk to the cross.
And do you know what happened to Peter after Jesus reinstated him?
Acts 3:12-14 (English Standard Version): And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
Peter just accused others of denying Jesus. Who was it that denied Jesus first?
Acts 5:3 (English Standard Version): But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?
Here he accused others of lying. Who lied first when he said he didn’t know Christ? When I learnt about this, I realised how great the sense of forgiveness Peter must’ve felt from God. He was living this forgiveness, and it gave him boldness. His conscience had been cleaned of guilt. He knew that Jesus had forgiven him. Know today that Jesus forgives you completely too.
Hebrews 8:12 (New International Version): For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
When you accepted Jesus into your heart as saviour some time ago, He already nailed all your sins to the cross. God is not unjust that He will punish the same sin twice. You are not in this pain because of a mistake from your past. In fact, He doesn’t remember any of your sins anymore! Every record of that in Heaven has already been wiped out.
Have faith that He will heal you.
Map to the series:
Part 1: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/1-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 2: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/2-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 3: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/3-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 4: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/4-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 5: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/5-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 6: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/6-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 7: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/7-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
Part 8: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/8-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
(FINAL) Part 9: https://godandneighbour.blog/2026/02/19/9-9-hope-for-the-depressed-christian/
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