But I Feel Trapped!

This message continues the Flawed Follower series, which discusses the life of Peter, and how his relationship with Jesus teaches us about the way we can better our own relationships with Jesus. When we feel like we have failed God, we often find ourselves trapped in a cycle of guilt, pain, and shame. But God lets us know that he's not finished with us yet. Not only do we have to allow us to accept God's forgiveness, but we also need to forgive ourselves and heal. In order to forgive ourselves, we must (1) make an honest assessment and assume responsibility for our part in what has happened (2) equip our hearts with self-empathy and reframe our thinking (3) ask for forgiveness and make amends where possible, and (4) learn the lesson, and let go of the guilt and shame. When we are able to forgive ourselves and move forward with the lessons we've learned from our failures, we are able to create positive impact for others.