Dealing With Guilt!

At times I have found myself unnecessarily burdened down with guilt. Before I was a Christian I found it very difficult to deal with guilt. When I turned to God's word and understood the promises of hope, I learned what freedom there is from guilt in Christ Jesus.

This freedom is the result of walking in the light. This is a walk that is focused upon God and His principles of living as revealed in the Bible. As one given the promises of God, I can deal with my guilt today by:

• Acknowledging my guilt. This means, in Biblical terms, acknowledge I have sinned first against God. Guilt is not a result of a sickness, alienation, etc., but is a result of un-dealt with sin.


 

• Blaming no one but myself. Sin is a result of my own choice. I do not sin because of an outside environment. I am not held guilty of sin because of my parents, spouse, family, church, society or God. I am guilty of sin because I have chosen by my actions to sin.
  
  (James 4:17) Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. (NIV)


 

• Confessing my sins. Un-confessed sins will hold a person's conscience in the prison of guilt and guilt can make a life miserable. But confession is the personal acceptance of the blame for our sins. This confession should first be made to God, seeking forgiveness.
  
  (I Jn 1:6-10) If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. (NIV)

Once forgiveness from God is sought, we must understand that our actions sometimes affect others. Therefore, we should confess our sin to anyone wronged in sinning, asking them to forgive. This will release the burden of guilt from the heart and also allow forgiveness to be granted. God will be glorified!

(Matt 11:28-30) "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (NIV)