"I must have done something wrong for this to happen. This is somehow my fault or punishment."
How it sounds in your head: I keep thinking back trying to figure out what I did to deserve this. Did I not pray enough? Did I sin in some way that caused this? Other kids my age don't have this problem, so something must be different about me. Maybe if I'd been better, this wouldn't have happened.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
-- Romans 8:1Religious spirit of karma and Old Covenant law thinking - makes grace conditional and God transactional.
Human nature searches for cause-and-effect explanations for suffering. Church teaching about 'reaping what you sow' gets misapplied to create guilt where Jesus paid for condemnation.
This man was being executed for actual crimes - he DESERVED punishment by any measure. He'd done NOTHING for God, had no time to prove himself or make amends. Jesus' response? 'TODAY you will be with Me in Paradise.' INSTANT salvation, no process, no proving. If HE qualified, YOU qualify.
I REFUSE the lie that this is my fault or punishment! IT IS WRITTEN: There is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus - that's me! Jesus took ALL punishment for ALL sin on the cross - there's NONE left for me! The chastisement for my peace was on HIM, and by His stripes I AM healed! The BARAK blessing wasn't based on Abraham's behavior - he LIED twice and still got richer! IT IS WRITTEN: I am the righteousness of God in Christ - not by works but by GIFT! Sickness is not punishment - healing is my INHERITANCE!
Your Father doesn't have a cosmic scoreboard tracking your mistakes to send appropriate consequences - He's the Father who gave the ring to the son who'd been with PROSTITUTES, who threw a party for the one who'd WASTED everything. No lecture, no probation, no 'you deserved this' - just ROBE and RING and PARTY.