King David wrote Psalm 51:10 and 11 amid a difficult time. He had grievously sinned.
One day, he spied the beautiful — and married — Bathsheba bathing on her rooftop. Consumed with lust, he had her brought to the palace, had his way with her, and she became pregnant.
To cover his misdeed, David made sure Bathsheba’s husband was killed in battle, and he took Bathsheba to be his wife.
He and his new wife's child was born sickly, so for seven days, David prayed for God to forgive his sin and spare the child.
"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight.” (Psalm 51:1-4)
David confessed his sin. Wearing sackcloth and ashes — symbols of repentance — and through fasting and praying, he pleaded for his child's life.
But the child succumbed to its illnesses.
David then removed the sackcloth and ashes, washed and anointed himself, and asked to be fed. When questioned why he did not mourn his child, he said he had been repentant, he mourned while the child was alive, and nothing he could do would bring the child back.
This may sound callous. However, his heart was not untouched. He mourned his child. He consoled his new wife. He confessed his sin and repented.
David knew God forgave him, and he did something many of us have great difficulty doing: he forgave himself.
When we receive God’s forgiveness, we must also forgive ourselves. When we don’t, we tend to negate God's forgiveness.
Nothing you can do is so horrible that God will not forgive you. And if God — creator of the universe, author of life, the one who knows your heart — can forgive your most heinous sins, you can certainly forgive yourself.
This Lent, seek God’s forgiveness, and ask for the wisdom and strength to also forgive yourself.
The Rev. Mark Broadhead is pastor at Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church of Crestview.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: BROADHEAD: This Lent, learn to forgive yourself