Made a Big Mistake? Here’s How Faith Can Help You Heal
We’ve all made mistakes, but sometimes, that sinking feeling when you realize you messed up is stronger. Maybe it was a choice you regret, some words you wish you could take back, or a decision that hurt a loved one. No matter what it was, some mistakes stick with our hearts, making us feel guilty.
Have you ever felt that type of guilt? You should know it very well, not just from reading or hearing about it, but from living it yourself. There are times in life when our mistakes keep us awake at night, wondering if things will ever go back to normal. The feeling of guilt can be very heavy, making us wonder if we truly deserve forgiveness from God …or not.
When these kinds of thoughts invade our minds, the only way to save ourselves is through faith. It reminds us that we are more than the sum of our mistakes, and that forgiveness, growth, and healing are always possible. Read on and discover how faith can help you rebuild relationships, strengthen your spiritual foundation, and, most importantly, forgive yourself.
6 Ways Faith Can Help You Heal from a Big Mistake
1. Accept responsibility
When you make a mistake, it’s essential to understand the magnitude of your error and let those affected know that you are aware of what you did and that you accept responsibility.
Mistakes can happen all the time. We live in a world of chaos, where our lives feel overwhelming and our daily tasks are stressing us out. It’s extremely easy to become angry and overreact to small things. Unfortunately, nowadays, the lifestyles we have encourage this kind of behavior.
The difference is made in the way you manage an error. The first thing you need to do is acknowledge your actions and accept responsibility. Once you do that, everything will work out smoother.
A lot of people are trying to run away from the mess they’ve created, just because they are ashamed of what they did. Make sure to avoid this kind of behavior, because it will only make you feel worse. Accepting the consequences of your actions is the first step of healing.
For example, a mistake can happen at your workplace. As a professional, the next thing you’ll need to do is discuss the problem with your boss and colleagues. Before having the conversation with them, make sure to prepare with some key takeaways. Think about what led you to make that mistake and share the possible causes with your team.
As long as you are honest, your boss will not lose trust in your abilities. Instead, if you continue lying… You risk making everything even worse. If your co-workers understand that you lied about your mistake, you’ll probably end up getting fired. So, make sure to be honest and let everyone know about the causes that led to the mistake. Making them understand what you’ve been going through is essential.
If the mistake occurred in your personal life, you basically need to do the same thing. Acknowledge the consequences of your actions and admit your faults. Sit with those you’ve hurt and look them in the eyes while you apologize.
When we make errors, the feelings of our loved ones can be seriously affected. So, make sure to say sorry and let them know what was the reason why you acted like that. Understanding the causes will help you both heal faster.
2. Forgive yourself
After you acknowledge your faults and take responsibility for your actions, it’s time to forgive yourself. You need to spend some time with yourself and think about what you’ve done. Analyze everything that led you to make that mistake. Admitting it and moving on will affect how you press forward.
Remember that we are all humans and we all make mistakes. After you ask for forgiveness from the affected people, don’t forget to also forgive yourself. We all know that it can sound like a cliche, but it’s an extremely important step in the healing process.
A simple mistake can change your life in the blink of an eye. It can hurt your career or destroy your relationship. However, you need to stay focused on the positive aspects of yourself rather than the negative ones. Allow yourself to forgive yourself for the error.
Let’s say that you’ve made a mistake in your marriage, and you and your life partner ended up getting a divorce. The entire process can make you feel overwhelmed and deeply regret your actions, but unfortunately, there are times when asking for forgiveness is simply not enough.
You can’t move forward without forgiving yourself. Living with an unresolved chapter in your life will drain all of your energy, making you feel sad and worthless. So, accept what you did and cheer yourself up.
3. Fix it
Can the mistake you made be fixed? If the answer is yes, well, you know what you need to do. But, unfortunately, most of the time, the biggest mistakes can’t be fixed immediately. They need time.
Remember that pretending a mistake didn’t occur shouldn’t be an option. Don’t just walk away from your errors. Trying your best to fix the problem will not only make you feel better, but will also make others understand that you are trying your best.
If you made a mistake at work, own it publicly and let the team help you find the best way to solve it. If the people around yourself will see how invested you are in fixing your errors, they will appreciate your efforts. But of course, it also depends on the type of mistake. Some errors can’t simply be overlooked and require punishment.
4. Reflect on what led you here
Sometimes when we find ourselves in a hard place, it’s tempting to just push it all aside and try to forget what happened. But the truth is, one of the most important steps in healing spiritually is stopping for a moment and gently asking yourself ”How did I get here?”.
Think about your choices and emotions that led you to this point. Maybe you acted out of fear, or maybe you just accidentally drifted away from all the values you usually hold dear, little by little, without realizing it.
Reflection gives you the chance to connect every step you took and understand why you acted the way you did and what was going on inside your mind at the time.
Also, remember to reflect on the bigger picture. Have you been distant from God lately? Sometimes spiritual distance can make us feel lost, leading to mistakes we might not otherwise make.
When you look at the steps that brought you here, you also open new horizons. You’ll better understand what you need and how you can move in a healthier direction. So, be gentle to yourself. Reflect honestly, learn from yourself, and stop punishing yourself. No mistake can be fixed with faith and prayers.
You’ll be way there once you are courageous enough to admit your faults and reflect on your actions. You can consider yourself half healed.
5. Strengthen your spiritual habits
Once you reflect on what led you here, you need to pay attention to your spiritual habits. You need to reconnect with God. Spiritual habits shouldn’t be just routines, they need to be part of your life. Spirituality reminds you that you are loved, belong to something bigger, and most importantly, you don’t have to walk through life alone.
You can’t strengthen your spirituality overnight, but here are some simple steps you can take:
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Pray daily
You probably already know that one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your spirituality is by praying. You don’t fancy or formal words, the most important thing is to open an honest conversation with God.
There are a lot of people who feel unsure about prayer, especially after making a big mistake. They feel guilty and distance themselves from God, which makes them feel safer. The problem is that most people forget His power. God already knows their heart, but He wants them to come to Him willingly, with all their doubts, fears, and hopes.
Honest prayer is not about saying ”the right” words, it’s more about showing up and making the first step. One of the easiest ways you can start a prayer is by thanking God for everything you have and everything you’ve accomplished.
Share your pain, regrets, hopes, and everything that comes into your mind. You can be totally honest and admit if you’re angry or confused. Start small if you need to. You can set aside 5 minutes in the morning or night, find a quiet place, and close your eyes. You don’t need to put in a lot of effort. Just let the words come out.
The best part about praying is that there are no rules you need to follow. As long as you are being honest, you doing everything right.
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Read scripture
Did you know that the Bible is often described as God’s love letter to humanity? So, another key step in strengthening your spirituality is reading Scripture regularly. The Bible is filled with multiple stories that are meant to guide you through life. By reflecting on these stories, you will feel encouraged to pursue your dreams and move forward.
Choose a section that speaks to you. For example, if you want to read about new beginnings, you can read about Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels. Feel free to focus on anything you resonate with, and once you choose a passage, don’t rush. Read it slowly, maybe even out loud.
You can journal your thoughts and ask yourself questions. The goal is not to read as much as you possibly can, but to let the stories shape your heart, helping you see God’s truth and love more clearly.
Over time, lectures will become part of your routine, and regular reflection can help shift your mindset. It can calm anxiety, strengthen your faith, and most importantly, remind you about the bigger story you are part of. Just 5 minutes per day can make a huge difference in the way you see the world.
So, yes, mistakes are part of our lives, but what makes the difference is the way you recover from them.
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Be grateful
If you are trying to recover from a big mistake, gratitude might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, it’s one of the most powerful tools you have. Are you wondering why? Well, gratitude shifts your focus; it makes you realize the good part of your life instead of focusing on dwelling on your mistakes and disappointments. It helps you keep your eyes open and observe the good that is still present in your life.
You can build a habit of gratitude in super simple steps. For example, you can start by keeping a gratitude journal, where you can write down all the things you are thankful for each day. By positively beginning your day, you’ll see how things will naturally get better. Oh, and don’t worry! The things you write down don’t have to be very big or profound. You can be thankful for all the small things in your life, such as your new cup of coffee, a kind text from a family member, or a beautiful sunrise. By doing this writing exercise, over time, you’ll train your mind to notice and appreciate these moments.
You can also express gratitude in your prayers, thanking God for specific blessings in your life. This practice not only honors God but also softens your own heart, making you more open to joy, hope, and renewal.
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Seek support
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed. And sometimes, you need help to recover from the mistakes you made. So, look for people in your life who will pray with you and listen to your thoughts without judgment. Sharing your experiences and ideas with someone is one of the most underrated forms of therapy. You don’t always need a professional. A simple person can make a huge difference in the way you feel. In the moments of vulnerability, sometimes, all that people need is a shoulder to cry on.
You can speak to a friend, a family member, or even join a local church group. Connecting with others can provide encouragement, accountability, and a fresh perspective. You’ll be reminded that everyone struggles and that healing is something we can help each other walk through.
Being surrounded by other people who are going through similar situations can be extremely helpful and inspiring. It will help you stay motivated and hopeful, even when things feel tough.
6. Serve others
Another form of healing is to serve others. Usually, when people make big mistakes, they tend to pull away from the world. They might feel embarrassed or ashamed, but one of the most powerful ways to heal is serving others and remaining connected with society. This way, you’ll be forced to step outside of your own pain and help someone else. You’ll be reminded that your life still has value, and you will start seeing yourself not as the person who messed up, but as someone who can offer kindness and encouragement to those in need.
So, step out of your comfort zone and see how serving others will magically make everything feel better.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves after we make a mistake is that we are not as good as the others are. We may wonder why someone would want our help. But that’s not how God sees you.
Many people in the Bible made terrible mistakes, and God still used them to bless others. Just think about it for a second. Think of Peter, who denied Jesus three times and later became a leader in the early church, or Paul, who once persecuted Christians but later spread the gospel across the world.
Keep in mind that a mistake can never cancel out your ability to serve.
When you make yourself available to serve, you open a door for God to work through you. You become his hands and feet, bringing light to people who might be going through their own dark moments. That’s a powerful thing. And when we focus on letting God work through us, we profoundly connect with Him. We realize that even though we’ve messed up, He has never given up on us.
Are you interested in learning more about faith and religions? Here’s a great book that can be found on Amazon: 12 Major World Religions: The Beliefs, Rituals, and Traditions of Humanity’s Most Influential Faiths. Jason Boyett has written this easy-to-understand exploration of the 12 major religions from around the world. He shows us how they differ and explains why some might be misunderstood.
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