Very often in life, we find ourselves unconsciously thinking, “I’m just like my mom,” or “I’m just like my dad.” Sometimes, it stings even more when a spouse says it: “You’re just like your mom,” or “You’re just like your dad.” The words can feel like a verdict. We resist—”I’m not!”—But the truth is, some struggles seem to follow us. Alcoholism, poverty, abandonment, constant negativity, anger, disappointment, sadness, and even the mistakes and patterns of those who came before us can feel like shadows chasing us, just as they chased our parents.

But here’s the good news: negative generational habits can stop with you. You can stop the chain! Even if your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents repeated the same patterns for generations, it doesn’t have to continue. You have the power to shape a different future. You can forgive, be forgiven, and become a new creation. The past does not have to dictate what comes next.

And most of all, my friend, you can forgive yourself. The word of God declares that you are forgiven, that you are a new creation, and that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. All of your past mistakes died on the cross; God’s grace is abundant, forgiving you seventy times seven. No matter how many times you fall, God will keep forgiving you as long as you come to Him with a sincere heart. That’s His promise, and it’s a reflection of how truly good He is to us.