May 10 – Seeking Forgiveness for the Things You’ve Done

 1 John 1:9 –

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV)

SITREP:
What are you carrying that you’ve convinced yourself is too dark for God to handle? No sin is too great for God’s mercy. If you carry regret, know that confession leads to cleansing. His forgiveness is complete and absolute.

John wrote this letter to early Christians who were struggling to reconcile their failures with the grace of God. They were surrounded by false teachings and religious pressure that tried to add layers of shame and conditions to forgiveness. But John cut through the noise with this truth: restoration is real, and it starts with honesty.

This verse doesn’t downplay sin—it deals with it directly. But it also highlights the unmatched character of God: faithful (He does what He says) and just (because Jesus already paid the price). There’s no guesswork in God’s response to confession—only certainty.

Breaking Down the Verse:

• “If we confess our sins…”
• Confession isn’t weakness—it’s strength. It’s choosing truth over silence. It’s opening the door to healing by finally dropping the weight you weren’t built to carry.
• “…He is faithful and just…”
• God doesn’t waver. He doesn’t say “maybe.” He keeps His word because He already made the way through Christ. His justice has been satisfied—there’s nothing left to pay.
• “…will forgive us our sins…”
• Not might. Will. Forgiveness is guaranteed. You don’t have to wonder if He’ll do it. You just have to ask.
• “…and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
• Forgiveness doesn’t stop at pardon. It includes purification. God removes the stain, the shame, and the aftertaste. When He cleans, He leaves nothing behind.

How This Hits Home for a Soldier’s Faith:
There are moments in war—on the field, in the heat of a decision—that live in your memory long after the mission is over. Maybe it was necessary. Maybe it was legal. But that doesn’t mean it was painless. Some things don’t make it into your file, but they weigh heavy just the same.

This verse is your clearance to let it go—to stop hiding what’s been buried in silence.

• If there’s guilt you never voiced
• If there’s a moment you never reconciled
• If there’s a fear that this one thing might be beyond forgiveness

It’s not.

You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You don’t need to justify your actions. Just bring it to God, raw and real. He already knows. He’s not shocked. He’s ready.

This verse is your promise that the stain can come out—that the thing that still echoes at night doesn’t have to own you forever.

ENDEX:
A soldier can patch up wounds, but only God can heal the soul. 1 John 1:9 is your open door to freedom—not through performance, but through confession. This is where guilt ends and grace begins.

Don’t keep dragging it through the mud. Bring it into the light.
Confess. Be forgiven. Be clean.

AAR (After Action Review):
Have you ever handed God something you were afraid to even say out loud—something from the battlefield, the barracks, or the past—and found that He forgave it without hesitation? Share what that moment of cleansing felt like. Your courage could unlock someone else’s freedom.

Make your voice count—share what you’ve lived.

Share your experiences in the comments below. Your words could encourage someone else walking a similar path.

If you're comfortable, include as much or as little personal detail as you’d like. We suggest:

• Name
• Veteran, Retired, Family Member etc.
• Service Branch
• Years of Service (or Deployment Dates and Locations)

Every story matters—and yours might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.