As spiritual beings in a mortal journey, we can find ourselves in the midst of having weaknesses. Some weaknesses, we might find hard to overcome that we sometimes find ourselves stumbling again even if we have already did our best to repent of them. It’s frustrating, and even disheartening that we can even ask “Is God’s forgiveness unlimited?” Can God forgive us again even if we made the same mistakes?

Is God’s Forgiveness Endless?

It’s a question that can weigh heavily on the heart: “If I have to ask forgiveness for the same thing over and over, can I ask forgiveness again, or will I reach a limit?” When we keep stumbling over the same weakness, it’s easy to wonder, “will god forgive me?”

There are two crucial things to remember here: (1) God’s mercy is indeed infinite, and (2) true repentance means forsaking your sins.

On the one hand, because of the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ, repentance is available to everyone, even those who have made the same mistakes many times. As the prophet Alma said, “Behold, [the Lord God] sendeth an invitation unto all men, for the arms of mercy are extended towards them, and he saith: Repent, and I will receive you” (Alma 5:33).

On the other hand, this isn’t a license to sin lightly. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 73).

So what is the key? As the Lord revealed, “By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43). And as Alma taught, “Whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved” (Alma 32:13; emphasis added).

In other words, you must confess and forsake your sins and try to be faithful until the end of your life. If you are having trouble overcoming a particular sin, don’t give up on yourself in the mistaken belief that there’s a limit to sincere repentance. Seek help from your parents and your bishop or branch president. Their love, support, and counsel can help you as you strive to remove sin from your life and draw closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Unlimited Forgiveness and Sincere Repentance

The relationship between God’s infinite forgiveness and our repeated mistakes is bridged by one crucial element: sincere repentance.

One of the most important parts of asking God for forgiveness is to truly, sincerely repent. This isn’t just about saying “I’m sorry.” It’s a transformative journey. One of the most vital aspects of the repentance process is going through the correct steps: acknowledging your sin, feeling sorrow for it, confessing to God (and, when necessary, to appropriate people like a bishop), forsaking the sin, and making restitution where possible.

This work—this effort—is what changes us. The work that goes into the repentance process harnesses us to overcome the very weakness that makes us stumble. It includes training ourselves to really overcome our sins and to strive every day to choose the Lord and choose the right.

The Process of True Repentance

So, what does this process look like? When we want to know how to fully repent, we can turn to these key steps:

  • Acknowledging Sins: We must honestly recognize and admit to ourselves and to God that we have made a mistake.
  • Feeling Sorrow: This is “godly sorrow,” a deep sadness not just that we got caught, but that we disappointed our Father in Heaven and moved further from Him.
  • Confessing: We must confess all our sins to the Lord. Serious sins that may affect our standing in the Church should also be confessed to our bishop or branch president, who acts as a healer and a guide.
  • Forsaking: This is the turning point. It means to abandon the sin completely, to leave it behind and never return to it. This is where the daily “striving” comes in.
  • Restitution: We must restore what we can. If we stole something, we return it. If we damaged a reputation, we do our best to repair it. This helps heal the wounds we may have caused.

The Danger of Delaying Repentance

When we make mistakes, especially repeated ones, Satan works hard. He will whisper that we are hopeless. He tells us we’ve failed too many times.

The more we delay our repentance, the more he makes us believe that the Lord’s forgiveness is limited and that we are unworthy of it. This is his greatest lie. It’s easy to fall into the trap of asking, “is the lord still going to forgive me?” and believing the answer is “no.”

But the Atonement of Jesus Christ is infinite in its power and its reach. Do not listen to those feelings of hopelessness. No matter how hard it seems, no matter how many times you’ve been on this road, decide to repent immediately.

You Are Worth the Effort

Please, remember: God’s love for you is not fragile. It is constant, mighty, and perfect. His forgiveness is always available to the sincere heart.

True repentance is a process of change, not a single event. It’s a path of becoming, of slowly, sometimes painfully, chipping away at our weaknesses and allowing the Atonement of Christ to sanctify us.

God does not see you as a “failure.” He sees you as His beloved child, striving, falling, and getting back up again. He doesn’t just forgive; He heals. He is not standing at a finish line tapping His foot, impatient with your progress. He is walking the path right beside you, His arms of mercy extended, saying, “Come, follow me. Try again. I am with you.”

So, is God’s forgiveness unlimited? Yes. His mercy is infinite. The path is always open. Take His hand, and walk it with Him, starting today.