By: Rachel Morales, Executive Director Right to Life KC, ED Inc.
On January 24, 2026, tens of thousands of Californians marched in the Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco. Before the walk began, there was a rally called Silent No More, held to the right of the main stage, where several women bravely stepped up to the microphone to share their testimonies of the trauma of their abortions. In every case, these women shared the immense regret they felt afterward and the various ways that regret manifested in their lives. Some turned to drugs or alcohol to numb the pain. Others remained in abusive relationships as a form of penance for their choice to abort. No matter how these women tried to cope with the overwhelming guilt, the common theme was that they could not forgive themselves.
Unfortunately, struggling to forgive oneself is not exclusive to women who have experienced the trauma of abortion. Even Christians who truly believe that when they ask God for forgiveness, and have genuine repentance in their hearts, He forgives them instantly, can sometimes struggle to forgive themselves. Hebrews 10:17 says: “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” God does not suffer from divine amnesia. He exercises divine mercy. He knows your past better than you do, and He has chosen, decisively and eternally, not to use it against you. Sadly, our human minds are not so well equipped, and we often remember our sin and dwell on it.
So, what are we saying when we do this? Are we telling God that His standard of forgiveness is too low? That He does not understand how serious our mistakes truly were, and that being forgiven must be earned rather than freely given? In some cases, that is exactly what we are saying. What can we do instead? Give ourselves grace. The enemy of God loves to creep in and try to bring shame into our hearts and minds for the mistakes of our past, but shame is not of the Lord. Psalm 34:5 reminds us that God removes shame. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
You do not need to hold yourself to a higher standard than God. You can forgive yourself and begin to heal. That does not mean you will no longer hear these lies or feel them, but when you do, acknowledge them and then pray, giving them back to God. You do not need to take ownership of these thoughts or dwell on them. Do not pretend they are not there either. Recognize their existence, but then give them to God every. Single. Time.
For help with forgiveness and healing, please reach out to Right to Life Kern County. We would love to encourage you, point you to God and to resources that can help you on your journey.