Do you believe God gives you signs that He has forgiven you?

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forest1970

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I don’t know if this is the right board but years ago I had an abortion. I felt forced into it by my family and the father. I didn’t want to go through with it and just needed support which I didn’t get from anyone. I even asked the father to come back into the room before they called me and told him I didn’t want to go through with it but I did not get any support so I went through with it. It hurts me still every day and I find myself wishing that I would have a dream so that I could see my baby again or that an Angel or somone would let me know that my baby is with God and knows that I love her and if I had the chance again, I would have her and love her like no baby’s been loved before. It hurts me every day.

I asked God with my next baby that if He forgave me to give me a son. That may sound stupid but there aren’t boys in the family and I did get a boy. It’s probably not related but it always stuck in my head. Then it just dawned on me that the day they start calculating your pregnancy from (your last period - you are not really pregnant yet and haven’t even conceived yet, but that’s when they calculate it from), but that day they calculated my pregnancy from with my first baby is the day years later that I gave birth to my next child on. I never made the connection until right now.

Do you think God gives signs? I know he forgives, but I can’t.
 
Signs God forgives me? Letting His son hang in torture from a tree for three hours and die.

It’s not about signs and subjective emotional experience, it’s about the cold fact that God forgives those who repent. God will forgive anything, and it doesn’t matter if you see signs or have feelings about anything.
 
Sweetheart, name the baby you have lost and humbly ask your baby’s forgiveness.
Your grief at the loss of your child is very natural. Your little girl loves you and she is able to pray for your son her brother and you. This is now her very special role for your family. She isn’t lost to you. You do love her, and you can tell her so. She understands better than you imagine. She understands also that you felt frightened and alone. God who knows you better than anyone also knows that.

And yes, sometimes God does give signs. God doesn’t have to do that and doesn’t always do it…but sometimes, yes, as I know from occasional experience.

And Mark is right. The mercy of God is our proof.
There may be some confusion between guilt and grief. I pray God will help you work through your grief,
but no guilt dear sister because God has forgiven you. With love
 
Great post Trishie!

I have heard the evil one trys to get good people to doubt their forgiveness. He trys to take away the relief obtained in the Sacrament of Penance. It is a bit of a “head game.” He uses despair as the opening and moves into other territory later on.

I would ask a priest about this though. The priests today are excellent at discussing this issue. I just spoke with one today at a Day of Recollection in IL. It was a very nice event. After confession, I asked a couple of more questions concisely so we could make room for the next one in line. It was a great revelation to me. Like being born again - the real way, catholic style!
 
The absolute sure sign that GOD gives me that HE forgives my sins, is a priest who says, 'I forgive your sins…"

You did not indicate any religion, but if you have been baptized Catholic, go to confession, and you will have your sign.

Also, I believe there are programs to heal women from abortions. Please inquire into that as well.
 
forest1970 said:
I don’t know if this is the right board but years ago I had an abortion. I felt forced into it by my family and the father. I didn’t want to go through with it and just needed support which I didn’t get from anyone. I even asked the father to come back into the room before they called me and told him I didn’t want to go through with it but I did not get any support so I went through with it. It hurts me still every day and I find myself wishing that I would have a dream so that I could see my baby again or that an Angel or somone would let me know that my baby is with God and knows that I love her and if I had the chance again, I would have her and love her like no baby’s been loved before. It hurts me every day.

I asked God with my next baby that if He forgave me to give me a son. That may sound stupid but there aren’t boys in the family and I did get a boy. It’s probably not related but it always stuck in my head. Then it just dawned on me that the day they start calculating your pregnancy from (your last period - you are not really pregnant yet and haven’t even conceived yet, but that’s when they calculate it from), but that day they calculated my pregnancy from with my first baby is the day years later that I gave birth to my next child on. I never made the connection until right now.

Do you think God gives signs? I know he forgives, but I can’t.
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Please search for post-abortion ministries in your area. Here is one that I know of, that gets very high recommendations from women who have gone through an abortion and needed healing. //www.rachelsvineyard.org/index.htm

They do retreats at a very reasonable price, just covering the meals really, and they are very experienced. Please do not hold onto this pain, dear one. You have suffered long enough. Your story is the norm in abortion - most young girls and women are coerced or pressured. One organization calls it “The Un-Choice.” It is usually the farthest thing from a “choice!”

Here is a website that lists many resources for post-abortion healing. I haven’t gone through each of these, but I know a few of them. afterabortion.org/resourc.html

And this is another well-known organization that helps women and men…

healinghearts.org/index.php

Please let us know how you are doing after you reach out for help. Many women have found it helps them the most when they start getting involved in the pro-life moment, such as silentnomoreawareness.org/ There is audio on that site so don’t let it startle you. And you may not want to hear the stories right now, but bookmark it for later when you can handle it.

When they tell their stories or sidewalk counsel and help other women choose life, it does help. It is very powerful for a woman to hold a sign saying “I regret my abortion” outside an abortion clinic. Probably the most powerful thing in the world.

May God hold you close.
 
How nice is it to receive communion? Very nice indeed.

When I have been to confession and I receive communion it feels more overwhelming. Physically it feels as if I have just drunk a very large sherry in one go and can feel a warm burning sensation. Spiritually I feel like I have been wrapped up in a blanket.

He always forgives if you ask for forgiveness.

How awful it must be to live without knowing God’s love and mercy.

🙂
 
Julian0404 said:
The absolute sure sign that GOD gives me that HE forgives my sins, is a priest who says, 'I forgive your sins…"

You did not indicate any religion, but if you have been baptized Catholic, go to confession, and you will have your sign.
Click to expand...
I was going to post this, but someone beat me to it.

👍
 
Once a sin captures your mind, you have no peace of mind but once God forgives you and washes away all your sins, you’ll have peace of mind. “peace of mind” is a sign that God has forgiven you all your sins. The only way you can get peace of mind is to go for confession. Tell all your sins leaving none and feel sorry for your sins and God will forgive you and wash away all your sins and you will get a peace of mind.
 
forest1970 said:
I don’t know if this is the right board but years ago I had an abortion. I felt forced into it by my family and the father. I didn’t want to go through with it and just needed support which I didn’t get from anyone. I even asked the father to come back into the room before they called me and told him I didn’t want to go through with it but I did not get any support so I went through with it. It hurts me still every day and I find myself wishing that I would have a dream so that I could see my baby again or that an Angel or somone would let me know that my baby is with God and knows that I love her and if I had the chance again, I would have her and love her like no baby’s been loved before. It hurts me every day.

I asked God with my next baby that if He forgave me to give me a son. That may sound stupid but there aren’t boys in the family and I did get a boy. It’s probably not related but it always stuck in my head. Then it just dawned on me that the day they start calculating your pregnancy from (your last period - you are not really pregnant yet and haven’t even conceived yet, but that’s when they calculate it from), but that day they calculated my pregnancy from with my first baby is the day years later that I gave birth to my next child on. I never made the connection until right now.

Do you think God gives signs? I know he forgives, but I can’t.
Click to expand...
A sacrament is a sign… “An outward sign instituted by God to give grace”. This includes the sacrament of reconciliation (confession). When the priest says the words “I absolve you from your sins…”, that is Christ Himself speaking, not the priest. He is only using the priest’s vocal chords. That is your sign.
 
forest1970 said:
I don’t know if this is the right board but years ago I had an abortion. I felt forced into it by my family and the father. I didn’t want to go through with it and just needed support which I didn’t get from anyone. I even asked the father to come back into the room before they called me and told him I didn’t want to go through with it but I did not get any support so I went through with it. It hurts me still every day and I find myself wishing that I would have a dream so that I could see my baby again or that an Angel or somone would let me know that my baby is with God and knows that I love her and if I had the chance again, I would have her and love her like no baby’s been loved before. It hurts me every day.

I asked God with my next baby that if He forgave me to give me a son. That may sound stupid but there aren’t boys in the family and I did get a boy. It’s probably not related but it always stuck in my head. Then it just dawned on me that the day they start calculating your pregnancy from (your last period - you are not really pregnant yet and haven’t even conceived yet, but that’s when they calculate it from), but that day they calculated my pregnancy from with my first baby is the day years later that I gave birth to my next child on. I never made the connection until right now.

Do you think God gives signs? I know he forgives, but I can’t.
Click to expand...
Dear forest1970. You have been given good advice here. I just want to affirm them. What you really want to know is whether God really, really forgives you. There is no sign for that, what you are looking for anyway.

I have some experience in this, not an abortion certainly because I am a man, but as a ministry. If it is any comfort, what you are asking is quite common among women who have undergone what you experienced. No matter whether you agree to the abortion or not, the regret that causes a permanent emotional scar is always very difficult to deal with. You will always carry the sense of loss and thus guilt. The memory may never fade. The worst that can happen as very often is the case that these can translate into some unwanted obstacles in your life, negative perception of things and personal sense of helplessness. Over time these can be overcome by the healing love of the Lord and you will get over it.

I am not telling you this to drum in the guilt or to preach but rather if it is of any help, to affirm you that, yes, God forgives. There is nothing He cannot forgive; there is no sin that cannot be forgiven except the sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit (LK 12:10). Therefore what you had undergone through can be forgiven. Do not put a condition on God for it; thanks him that indeed he has forgiven you.

It is natural that you want something, in this case a boy. Subconsciously it may reflect something deeper in you – a sense to make up for what had happened. Do not put that burden on yourself since the Lord had taken that upon himself. Live normally and one day at a time enjoying every minute of it. After all it is the day that the Lord has made. Thanks God for what’s coming and happening regardless. You will be alright. Surely.

God bless you.
 
Nelka said:
How nice is it to receive communion? Very nice indeed.

When I have been to confession and I receive communion it feels more overwhelming. Physically it feels as if I have just drunk a very large sherry in one go and can feel a warm burning sensation. Spiritually I feel like I have been wrapped up in a blanket.

He always forgives if you ask for forgiveness.

How awful it must be to live without knowing God’s love and mercy.

🙂
Click to expand...
Nelka, thanks for sharing that, I feel the same way after Communion

God bless 🙂
 
Hi Forest1970,

Your post really struck me, and I’m sorry for the grief and remorse you feel now. In some ways, I have been there and understand. Please try to offer those feelings up to God, and please believe that you are forgiven. God sees your repentant heart, and he knows you are sorry. I think it’s most difficult to forgive oneself.

I haven’t read through all of the replies to your post so this may be redundant, but have you heard of Rachel’s Vineyard? I’m struggling with several scrupples over the loss of my daughter–I lost her in August of this year, when I was 5 months pregnant. She was our first child. Our situation is a bit different than yours, but because of all of the guilt I feel surrounding the circumstances of her death, I’m planning on attending a retreat. Perhaps it will help you too.

Also, I recently came across something called the ‘Shrine of the Holy Innocents.’

innocents.com/shrine.asp

You are encouraged to give your baby a name, so that they may write the name in their ‘Book of Life.’ They will also send you a certificate of life with your baby’s name, if you like. It has been a huge comfort to me–one of my fears is that my daughter will be forgotten on earth, but in this way, at least her name will be recorded permanently.

God bless you–I’m praying for you, and for your comfort and strength. Heartfelt hugs to you, my beautiful sister.
 
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