Ashamed of tattoos & afraid God wont forgive me
Q: I grew up believing in God, but was never very active at church.
About 8 years ago, my mom stopped believing, and now hates Christians and Christianity. 😔
A few years ago, I went through a really dark time, feeling depressed and even suicidal. I felt like Satan was “controlling” me. I went and got a tattoo of a Leviathan Cross, as well as an upside down cross. I am getting Satan’s cross covered up, but I can’t do anything about the other one.
Also...I feel like here recently, I go back and forth on whether or not I believe. One day, I feel like God is with me and telling me that everythings going to be okay, and the next day, I feel like Satan is back in my head, and won’t leave me alone. I fear that God will never forgive me for getting the tattoos, and I just want to sit and hug him and tell him how sorry I am. I want to believe. I want to learn everything about Christianity, meet new people, and truly find God.
Please help me❤️😭🙏🏼
A: God is a God of salvation. 🙂
He forgives all (our entire life) of sins at the moment of salvation. He loves and understands us. Its also good your conscience is pointing you to be sensitive to sin & God...and drawing you to want live rightly. In Christ you fully can.
“Come now, and let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." ISAIAH 1:18
God said" You will seek Me and you will find Me when you search for Me with all of Your Heart" JEREMIAH 29:13
"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37
God said, "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me [void], but it will accomplish what I desire and achieve what I send it to do" Isaiah 55:11
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6
While it is true I am anti tattoo (because of many reasons), BUT I will tell you (in grace) I do understand the prediciment😊. I have a close pastor friend who decades ago had horrible tattoos (from youth - when he was not saved) and took years to be able to get them off. He felt like you. They were on his knuckles, arm etc and was so glad to get most of them off. I have another friend (in evangelism) who got a Christian tattoo. She uses it to witness!
You could cover it up with a "sleeve" of sorts, or maybe cover it up with a Christian tattoo. Hers is on her forearm. See pic. Or...You could use the upside down tattoo to witness about Christ and say it is how Peter (an apostle) was said to have died. Maybe add "PETER" to the cross in Purple or Red. If you change the meaning then you have a diff mindset, and in this case will change your feelings too. Plus it gives you opps to share the gospel in random conversations😀. And as part of your testimony!
“and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23
I hope this encouraged you!
As far as faith, here are resources to help you. May God bless you and give you peace as you live for him 😊🙏💜✝️
1. The Gospel
2. About God
Also... I would love to share this new & growing believers resource with you. As you grow in your faith and also go thru these pages you, will find info to help you address your moms issues with Christianity. I will say there is a possibility for hope for her salvation, so stay prayerful and share what you can (as you understand it), and know that God's Word doesnt return void 😊🫂✝️💜
James 5:20 "Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins"
Footnotes:
*Do let your church folk know why you are keeping the tattoo, and the struggle you had over it... so they dont misjudge you, and so anti tattoo people understand.
“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” John 7:24
