Deal with the Guilt

I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me.

Jeremiah 33:8

Guilt can be a beast to deal with in our lives. Guilt will compel us to do things that we would never do. It will drive sleep and peace right out of our lives. Because we are humans and don’t always live up to what we know is right—guilt is always ready to pounce on us.

Our best defense in dealing with guilt is a good offense of faith in God. Every one of us falls short of God’s glory because of sin. (Romans 3:23) In addition, none of us are without sin. (1 John 1:8) Avoiding guilt only compounds it—instead let’s deal with our GUILT in the Lord:

G – Go to God in prayer, meditation, and confession.
“Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
God wants us to run to Him—not away from Him in shame. He’s ready to forgive and cleanse us from the stench and stain of sin.

U – Uncover the reason we feel guilty.
“Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the LORD! (Lamentations 3:40)
Instead of brooding over a cloud of guilt, we can dig deep to uncover where it began. If we’ve offended God and other people, we can confess and seek forgiveness.

I – Initiate conversations with those who we may have offended.
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-25)
It’s tough to admit when we’ve sinned against another person—especially when it’s someone in our own household. However, when we are quick to admit fault and ask forgiveness, our vulnerability opens up a relationship to grow deeper.

L – Let go of it.
“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14)
The Lord convicts us of our sin to lead us to repentance. After we’ve repented, there’s freedom and joy because we are no longer enslaved to shame and guilt.

T- Take corrective action so as to not repeat.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. (Galatians 5:24-25)
If we want to live free of guilt, we may have to make the tough decisions of removing ourselves from certain people or situations that influence us to sin. When we walk in the Spirit, we are led to live righteously so as to not have to repeat the same sins.