Guilt has a way of whispering lies — that we are too broken, too far gone, too stained to be loved. But the Word of God tells a different story. Here’s what I’ve learned about releasing guilt, shame and resting in grace.
I will preface by saying I have made my fair share of mistakes and misguided judgments, used hurtful language, and even expressed hatred on many occasions. I wasn’t the perfect child, and I’m not a perfect wife, mom, daughter, or friend. I’ve experienced guilt, shame, bitterness, anger, and not loving others as I should. One of the most difficult battles in life is the battle you fight within yourself. The struggle to overcome adversity, temptation, loss, feeling unloved, rejected, guilt, or fear. The test we face can either become our downfall or our testimony. We can choose to become a victim or become victorious.
I have had to pay a high price for my sins, and I live with that daily. I have battles with self-deprecation, doubt, pity, saying awful and hurtful things about myself, and believing them. At one point, I believed I was not good enough because of the things I had done and said. Then I realize, maybe all of this trauma, guilt, pain, and turmoil will be worth it if one person can be positively affected by my story. Knowing that I have God and Jesus at my side, I can lay my burdens at Jesus’ feet. He is my father, He is my strength, He is my shield, and I find peace in His perfect presence.
I will continue to forgive myself and others as many times as it takes, and pray fervently and daily for those who persecute me.
The Bible says that Jesus calls sinners to join him, sometimes the worst of the worst. Look at Paul, before Jesus called him, he persecuted Christians and killed them. But Paul became one of the most well-known apostles of Jesus, even dying a horrific death because of his love for Him. Jesus sits, eats, and comes to save sinners, not the righteous. Their stories made the most positive impact. Why? Because their story didn’t end with their mistakes, it finished with their comeback. I may feel like I’m defeated at times, but my story isn’t finished. My victory is coming! If this touches and changes one life, it will all be worth it.
The bible says
" If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. "
1 Corienthians 13:3-7 (NKJV)
So no matter what you say or do from this day forward, if you don’t have love or practice these things listed above, you gain nothing. Boy, that’s hard. I have shattered the record of keeping wrongs, and I have had some serious hatred in my heart. I haven’t always protected, trusted, or persevered either.
Not only do we tend to think the worst of ourselves, but outside influences will try to convince us that we are not worthy, that we are doomed to face shame and guilt, and that we will not be forgiven for our past mistakes. That is not at all true. In the very beginning, guilt and shame entered the world through sin. Adam and Eve ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and sin came crashing in. They lived in the garden with God, they talked with God, and walked with Him. Yet, they were deceived by the twisting of the truth. Have you been deceiving yourself about the truth God has to offer? Thinking the worst of yourself? Well, I have great news for you. God, in his kindness and wisdom, sent His son, Jesus, into this world to save His people from sin and free them from guilt and shame. It is through Jesus that we can approach the throne of God, be forgiven of our sins, and be redeemed through Jesus’ blood. Jesus is fully God, fully man, and He died on the cross so that we can experience freedom through Him. In doing so, we have the ability to go to Heaven! God consistently meets His people with grace and love, covering their guilt, shame, healing their hearts, and restoring them as sons and daughters. Guilt and shame don’t get the last word in the Bible – God’s love and forgiveness do!
" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "
1 Corienthians 13:3-7 (NKJV)
" There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. "
Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
" As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our sins from us. "
Psalms 103:12 (NKJV)
" I will be merciful when they fail, and I will erase their sins and wicked acts out of My memory as though they had never existed. "
Hebrews 8:12 (NKJV)
" He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. "
Micah 7:19 (NKJV)