“But it wasn’t me,” both of them whined.

“STOP!” I yelled. “Just go get ready for bed.” My face felt hot, and I could feel my blood pressure rising. I just needed to be alone.

As soon as they left the room, I collapsed into an armchair and started crying. I knew I was letting my anger take over when I tried to discipline my kids, and I regretted the fact that I yelled so often. Lord, I quietly prayed, You know I’ve been struggling with anger issues. Please help me stop taking out my frustration on the kids. Please help them forgive me for speaking so harshly.

I opened my Bible to Luke 6:36: “Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” Then suddenly something clicked. I realized God was not only telling me to be merciful to my kids but also to receive His mercy for my sin. When we don’t focus on anything except what we’ve done wrong, we aren’t focusing on God and His grace, which is never deserved no matter how good we are. The regret we feel can steal the joy that God intended for us to have.

No matter what the sin is, God forgives if you are repentant. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will be like wool” (Isa. 1:18). We need to remember that once we repent, God wipes away our sin. He no longer remembers it. We can move on with a clean slate.