Have you ever been given a gift? Say a sweater. You liked it, said thank you, and then put it away? Months later you find it again and then think -oh, I forgot about that?' Why have I been wearing my old ratty sweater all this time?
I wonder if God sees us and wonders the same thing? We have asked Him to forgive us for something, but guilt nibbles at our heart while we try to sleep at night.
There are times I have prayed fervently for someone I love deeply and entrusted him or her into the hands of Jesus only to find, I am worrying about him or her again within the hour. So, I pray again and leave that burden once more with Jesus who is more than able to care for the situation far better then I am. I find passages of scripture that build my faith and enable to me to trust Him more thourougly.
When a person puts their trust in Jesus the Bible tells us we become "new" and the old has passed. Yet, I don't remember feeling particularly new. I did feel peace, however. To be honest, when I first met Jesus I had no idea I was a new creation in Him and the old had passed away. I had not read the Bible. All I knew at that time was peace whose source was not the sun shining outside my window.
I know there are huge books written on this topic and it could be said easily that I have made it too simple. That is how I operate though.
When Jesus says to us, I forgive you. Tell Him thank you and I receive that in Jesus Name. Then when you start feeling guilty again, just thank Him once more for that wonderful forgiveness. Do this as many times as it takes to really melt into your heart.
As for burdens that hang on your heart like a set of weights, I do the same thing. I give them over to God again and again. I also read passages of scripture that remind me that He is big enough for this problem. He is wise and faithful. I remember the countless times I have trusted Him and have found Him faithful.
When I think about the promise that He made of being a new creation, that is something I work on every day. I have to remember that I am God's child and He loves me. He is the Master Potter and He does not make junk. I know that He is not finished yet. That is always a good place to begin. Reading His Word is always helpful in these things.
God loves us and is for us. Receive by faith what He offers to you today.