The Stain in My Sweater

Estimated read time: 3–4 minutes

About a month ago, I accidentally stained my favorite sweater while eating. I tossed it into the laundry basket and, honestly, got too lazy to do my laundry. Days went by. I kept thinking about that sweater, when I’d finally wash it and if the stain would even come out.

As time passed, doubt crept in: That stain is probably permanent now. It’s been there way too long. I even searched online for the exact same sweater, ready to buy a replacement before I had even tried washing it. Without a single effort to clean it, I was already preparing to give up on it.

Then, this morning around 5 a.m., I finally found the willpower to do my laundry. While sorting through clothes, I pulled out my sweater and stared at the stain. This is never going to come out, I thought. But please… come out.

To my surprise, when I pulled the sweater out of the washer, the stain was gone. Completely. As if it had never been there. I was shocked. For nearly a month, I believed that stain was set in forever, and in just one wash, it was erased.

Right then and there, I heard the Lord whisper to my heart:
“You are not who you used to be. I have forgiven all your sins and transgressions. I’ve heard your cries and many prayers. You are no longer the person you were before.”

I knew I had to write this down so I would never forget it.

For so long, I had been praying to be changed. I didn’t realize that God had been listening the entire time and that He would use my favorite sweater to show me just how powerful His mercy is.

Sometimes we sit in our shame and guilt so long that we forget we have a Father who is always loving and endlessly forgiving. That morning, it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders.

The stain in my sweater represented past hurts, disappointments, mistakes, and self-doubt. And God? God was the washing machine.

We carry guilt and pain for so long, thinking I’ll never get over this. This will always hurt. But God has other plans. I thought that sweater was ruined. I had already made peace with replacing it. But with just a little faith, I decided to wash it. And through that small act, God reminded me He can remove even the deepest stains and make us new again.

I immediately thanked Him for the ultimate sacrifice, giving Himself so that we could receive true forgiveness.

Here are a few powerful scriptures that encourage prayer and speak to God’s forgiveness, mercy, and healing:

• Psalm 51:1–2 — "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."
•  Psalm 103:12 — "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
• Isaiah 43:25 — "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
• Isaiah 53:5 — "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

I’m praying for all my sisters out there who are struggling with guilt, shame, doubt, or disappointment. The truth is, it’s not our battle to fight. Jesus already won that battle. Our job is to lay those burdens at His feet and receive His forgiveness and healing. He is a merciful Savior.

So, we should allow Him to have mercy on us. And while we’re at it, let’s have mercy on ourselves as we navigate the many woes of life. Jesus has our best interest at heart. He wants to lift our burdens and remove every impurity, if only we’ll let Him. 

With love,
Your fellow sister in Christ ♡