Guilt. What is the first thing that you think of when you see the word Guilt?
This may sound extreme, but I think of a criminal, someone who is found guilty. Someone who has done something deserving of punishment, if not for good, for a very long time in order for the lesson to be learned, from which they may be redeemed. It’s interesting to break down the thought this way because it helps us to examine our belief behind a word. Though we are talking about guilt as a feeling or emotion, it still relates to how we punish ourselves when we feel guilty or when guilt is inflicted upon us.
Shame. How does it relate to guilt?
Guilt says “I’ve done something wrong” and Shame says “I am wrong”. Shame is defined as; a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. When we hold onto shame, we allow the belief that “I am wrong” to become our identity. With shame, there is no separation of the actions and the person. There is condemnation, which comes from the enemy.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. -John 10:10
Shame keeps us from showing up and living a purposeful life by keeping us in hiding. This is exactly what the enemy wants. To silence those who may have otherwise been used by God, had they learned to let go of shame and walk in freedom. Whether your feelings of guilt or shame are self-inflicted or imposed on you by others, this lasting feeling is not of God nor is it what he wants his children to experience without end. No matter how much that friend or family member may try to guilt trip you into doing something that you know is not God’s will for your life, or how guilty you may feel over a mistake you have made. Even if you have said something to put your foot in your mouth, or relapsed into an addiction once again, God’s grace and forgiveness are sufficient for your healing from guilt and shame.
What happens when we bring our guilt and shame to God?
Guilt for behavior or for sin that we actually did commit, when we bring it to God, can humble us and lead us to repentance. Repentance is the path to forgiveness of our sins. Sin is defined as ‘missing the mark’ of God’s will. I hope that you find comfort in knowing that we all ‘Miss the mark’ from time to time. If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need our Perfect Savior Jesus Christ. He already knew that we would make mistakes, but he still loves us the same. What matters to him is that we come to him with a repentant heart that can be transformed.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. - Acts 3:19
Guilt imposed on us by others can also be brought to God, either convicting us of our wrongs or allowing the peace that comes from the truth in his word to be a shield for us against wrongful condemnation.
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. - Proverbs 30:5
How we move forward.
I want to leave you with these 3 points by Pastor Irene Rollins, author of “Reframe your Shame: Experience Freedom from What holds you back”
3 Things to reframe your shame:
Focus on Jesus - Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
Focus on Forgiveness - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9
Focus on Freedom - Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17
Until next time!
Much love,
Fatima
#LiveFree
#TheFreedomSeries
