How Do You Know If Your Repentance Was Accepted?

How can I know for sure that my repentance (teshuva) has been accepted by G-d?

Rabbi Lugasi, in his book Nafshi BiSh’elati, offers a calming perspective to this very common question. The process of teshuva is clearly outlined in the Laws of Teshuva by Maimonides (the Rambam) which include regret, abandoning the wrongdoing, confession, and a genuine commitment not to repeat it. If a person has gone through these steps, they must trust that their teshuva has been accepted, even if they don’t receive a clear sign from above. This is especially relevant in our times, when divine presence is often hidden and less openly revealed.

Still, for those who are seeking reassurance that their teshuva has been accepted, Rabbi Lugasi points to two possible indicators:

1. Suffering

“A person who has done teshuva should actually feel joy in the midst of their suffering,” Rabbi Lugasi writes, “knowing that they've successfully passed the first stage.”

He explains: If you notice that hardships have come your way after making teshuva, take it as a sign that your return has been accepted. The first stage is teshuva itself. The second stage, according to tradition, is the suffering that often follows once that return has been sincerely completed.

That said, Rabbi Lugasi is careful to clarify that not everyone who repents will experience suffering. A person’s teshuva might be accepted without pain, perhaps because they’re doing acts of kindness, immersing themselves in Torah study, or for reasons known only in the heavenly realm. If however someone does experience suffering, it’s a strong indication that their teshuva has been accepted and they are being spiritually refined.

2. A Deep Feeling of Closeness to G-d

A second possible sign of accepted teshuva appears in the book Netivot Shalom (vol. 2, “U’Vein Keseh L’Asor,” p. 150): “The sacred texts teach that one way a person can know whether their teshuva has been accepted is by what they feel inside. If a person senses that they’ve become reconnected, that the barriers between them and G-d have been lifted, and they now feel spiritually close, that is a strong sign they’ve genuinely returned to their Source. If however a person still feels distant, it may be an indication that their process is not yet complete, and there’s still inner work to do.”

While we may not receive lightning-bolt confirmations from heaven, emotional closeness or spiritual challenges often reflect a deeper transformation taking place within.