I've been tormented most of my life over something I did when I was in my early 20s that was terribly wrong—more than I realized at the time. I've prayed and prayed for forgiveness, but nothing changes. Please warn people not to do bad things because they will come back to haunt them. — Mrs. T.McD.

When we do something we know is wrong, we feel guilty—and no matter how hard we try to bury it or deny it, that guilt never goes completely away. Perhaps you feel like the person in the Bible who wrote, "My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear" (Psalm 38:4).

But listen: You don't need to carry this burden any longer! God wants to forgive you and He has done everything to make your forgiveness possible. Yes, you may have hurt someone very deeply by what you did. But most of all, you hurt God—for we are really sinning against Him when we do wrong.

But God loves you, and He wants to relieve your burden of guilt by forgiving you—totally and completely. How is this possible? It's possible because Jesus Christ died on the cross to take away your sins. The Bible says that because of what Christ did for us "we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:14).

Don't carry this burden one minute longer. Instead, give it to Jesus, and by faith ask Him to come into your heart to cleanse and forgive you. Jesus' promise is for you: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).