"Guilt: punishing yourself before God doesn't"

This quote by Alan Cohen speaks to the concept that we typically punish ourselves for our errors and misbehaviors prior to God has the chance to. We feel guilty and embarrassed for our actions, and we take it upon ourselves to make up for them. This can be seen as a form of self-punishment, as we are trying to offset our wrongs prior to God has the chance to. This quote is a reminder that we must not be so difficult on ourselves, which we should not take it upon ourselves to punish ourselves for our mistakes. We need to instead leave it as much as God to choose how to manage our misdeeds. We must concentrate on gaining from our errors and growing from them, rather than punishing ourselves for them. We should also keep in mind that God is a caring and forgiving God, which He will constantly exist to forgive us and help us move forward.