Dealing With Our Guilty Feelings
Psalm 40:1-31
Guilt comes from a feeling
of responsibility for some wrongdoing. Certain convictions come from the
Holy Spirit's efforts to turn us away from sin and guide us to our heavenly
Father. But not all guilt stems from ungodly actions.
False guilt, which is not prompted by sin, can
surface for a variety of reasons, such as disappointment in one's own
performance, a sense of shame over past events, or criticism by others for
unmet expectations. Rejection or a pattern of abuse from childhood can also
trigger this emotion. False guilt is a powerful weapon the Enemy uses to
direct our thoughts away from God.
Whether false or real, the emotion of guilt
divides our mind, drains our energy, and creates a sense of insecurity. If
it is allowed to linger, we can start to have doubts about God's goodness
and love for us. Depression and hopelessness may follow. To cope, some
people develop compulsive behaviors in an attempt to replace self-reproach
with something pleasurable. Excessive amounts of shopping, eating, television,
Internet, and physical activity are common ways people try to push away
self-condemning thoughts.
Dealing quickly with guilt is important.
Acknowledge the emotion to the Lord, and identify the reason behind it. If
you've violated God's law, ask His forgiveness, and take steps to change
the behavior. If you discover false guilt, confess it and ask God to adjust
your thinking to match His. In either case, praise Him because He has
promised to forgive His children's sins and remove guilt.
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