What a Good God Wants You to Know about Guilt
Guilt. You’ve got it.
You know, that thing the enemy uses to label you a failure . . . to hold you back and defeat you.
Everyone has something maybe even several somethings. I thought about making a list of examples but that would only be a distraction. All that matters is what’s on your list.
I know what’s on mine.
My worst guilt has been over something that for years I didn’t even think of as a sin and when I was convicted by the truth, it flattened me. And you know what?
The enemy immediately started whispering words to defeat me.
I hate that, don’t you?
The enemy tempts us, entices us to sin and then labels us the very thing to which we acquiesced.
Liar. Thief. Murderer. Adulterer. Fool. Or something else.
And we wear it. We hate it, but we wear it.
Guilt!
But through God’s goodness there is a way to be free of guilt.
What a Good God Wants You to Know about Guilt
Your guilt…
Stop for a minute and picture yourself in the Garden of Eden. (Not watching but participating.)
See the snake taunting you and telling you, “God is holding out on you. If He really loved you, He would…” (You get the idea.) You know you should walk away, but this time, you don’t. You stand there and you listen.
He knows exactly what to say . . . the words you want to hear. A nudge to take charge, do it your way, and go after what you want even though you know God said “no” or at least “not now.”
You look at the fruit. It looks awesome and you go for it.
At first, it seems good. You got what you wanted. It’s sweet and it tastes great.
After a while, not so much. It starts to sour and you start to feel bad. Exposed. Vulnerable. And the enemy is calling you names.
You try to hide, but God finds you and shows you the truth. He’s right. You should have trusted Him.
You deserve punishment. You deserve banishment.
God tells you to leave the Garden.
Picture yourself being walked out . . . removed. Guilty!
But stay with me because in a moment . . . in a heartbeat, God changes the scene.
You are no longer in the Garden of Eden.
You’re at Calvary, falling at the foot of the cross. Crying out to Jesus.
All is forgiven.
The enemy’s attempt to defeat you no longer holds any power over you.
God in His grace and mercy has removed your guilt label.
And replaced it with words like loved, chosen, child.
Through Jesus, God calls you His own.
Why?
Because He is good! It’s who He is!
And because God is good, He wants good things for you.
Things like:
Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Hope. Contentment.
I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
He wants a relationship with you.
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me. Revelation 3:20
He wants you to know He fights for you.
Don’t be afraid of them, because the Lord your God will fight for you. Deuteronomy 3:22
He wants you to have a full life.
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
He wants you to trust Him and know that His perfect grace is enough in every circumstance.
I begged the Lord three times to take this problem away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, my power is made perfect in you.” 2 Corinthians 12:8–9
He wants you to live each day with an eternal perspective.
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:2–3
He wants to bless you!
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3
From the moment Adam and Eve experienced guilt, God had a way to remove it.
You and I can quote David and say…
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Psalm 32:5
No more guilt!
When the enemy tries to defeat you with that ugly old label, you can tell him…
My disobedience is forgiven, my sin is out of sight!
Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Psalm 32:1 and Romans 4:7
I’m clean.
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
My sin is gone . . . as far as the east is from the west!
He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. Psalm 103:12
Are you ready to be guilt free?
To reject the past and move ahead in faith.
Go back to the Garden. Fall at the foot of the cross.
Celebrate Jesus. Celebrate forgiveness. And live with joy!
“The only lasting and fully satisfying joys are found on the other side of the cross.” ~Rev. Walter J. Chantry
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I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Started a new Bible study this past week and this morning’s lesson was on “Do you believe (1) God is good; (2) God is good to me and (3) God is good at being God? My initial reaction was “yes,” “yes,” and . . . “what does THIS mean?” Reading your blog for today, I had to stop and think about what it means that God is GOOD. It’s not just the automatic response I had contemplated earlier. As I continue to think on this for the next few days, I will consider God’s goodness from a different perspective and perhaps the last question will come a little clearer. Thanks!
Hi, Cathy. I’ve been digging deep into a study of God’s goodness all month. It’s been a wonderful project this year taking faith words I’ve used so often and learning more about what they mean and how to apply them to my life. Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to say ‘hello’.
Praise be to God for taking our sins and removing them as far as the east is to the west—along with that heavy burden of guilt! I move into this day after reading your post with the goal to live with an eternal perspective and joy in my heart that God is good!
I am praising Him right along with you, Valerie! And praying to keep that eternal perspective every day!!
Thanks for posting this! Guilt is something I have struggled with my entire life. How wonderful to know that I don’t have to. That he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. Gods endless mercy is beyond what I can comprehend! Bless you! Keep posting!
Thank you, Sandra! Yes, I too am overwhelmed by God’s mercy and grace! Thanks so much for visiting and for sharing your kind encouragement! Blessings!
AWESOME words of hope today, Deb!
Love this post.
I’m sharing it all over~
Blessings,
Melanie
Thanks so much, Melanie!!
This was beautifully written and I needed to hear these words of truth. Thank you for the reminder that my guilt was taken on Calvery’s cross and I am free! <3
Erika, I’m so glad this blessed you! Thank you so much for stopping to let me know! We are free indeed!
Living guilt-free because of God’s great love shown on the cross. He is a good, good Father!
Blessings, Deb!
Amen, Martha! Guilt-free. He is a good Father! We are so abundantly blessed!
I loved the imagery you used here. I felt like I was right there in the garden… and then at Calvary. I’m always amazed by how God chose to declare us guilt free even though we are clearly guilty. Now that’s unconditional love! 🙂
Thank you, Alyssa! I grew up thinking of myself as an observer of those in the garden. It flattened me the first time I stood there and saw myself as Eve grabbing hold of that fruit. I am convicted, but thanks be to God because of Jesus I am no longer guilty. How awesome is that! We are redeemed by His love. Blessings!
Really excellent post, Deb! It affirms and confirms the theme of the 5 (maybe 6) post series I am in the midst of. Guilt is a weapon that Satan wields all too well. Thanks for the great reminders because even if Satan isn’t knocking on our door today, he will be on another day soon!
Thanks for your encouragement, Pam. The enemy is relentless, isn’t he? I’ll head over and check out your posts! Thanks so much for letting me know and for joining in the conversation here. Blessings to you!
This was such an encouraging post to read. Guilt is a tool of the enemy. Through Jesus, our guilt is erased. I’m so thankful for that truth.
You’re right, Dawn. The enemy loves to get in my head with past failures. I love that . . . Jesus is my guilt eraser. I will remember that! Thanks and blessings!
The imagery in this writing will stick with me, Deb. The garden and the foot of the cross. When I put my armor down and entertain the lies of the enemy, I believe that from this day forward that image will come to the forefront and the enemy will flee.
Thank you, my treasured friend.
Hugs,
Lori
Thank you for your encouragement, It’s something I will use going forward too, Lori. I don’t know why I’d never put the two scenes together in my mind before. I guess it’s easier to see myself at the foot of the cross than it is to admit I’ve reached out and grabbed that fruit! Blessings and hugs!!
Guilt is an ugly trap! I love how you said: From the moment Adam and Eve experienced guilt, God had a way to remove it. That is so very true, yet many of us deal with chronic guilt on a daily basis. Thanks for this beautiful reminder today.
What an encouraging post, Deb! Yes, the Enemy has us right where he wants us when we live defeated. And it’s so easy to take that back up, even when we’ve already dealt with it and moved on from it. Saturating ourselves with these truths of his Word is key.
Thanks for sharing this, friend. I was encouraged again by your words!
I had a life-changing moment once at a worship conference. There are many details I’ll leave out for now, but I was standing there worshiping and enjoying God’s presence when the enemy came to accuse and tear down. It was as if all my sins flashed before me, and somewhere in the midst of it, something rose up in me to say, “That’s not mine.” It had to be Holy Spirit because I didn’t feel that way, but as soon as it came up I felt the power of it. He really did remove all our guilt and shame. We really are His forever and ever. Thanks Deb.
Deb, Thank you for sharing this extremely encouraging post!!
I loved how you talked about “going back to the Garden of Eden and then falling at the foot of the cross” Wonderful Word picture of the hope that we have in Christ Jesus who has removed our sins as far as the East is from the West.
I leave here today feeling blessed. 🙂
I definitely wear my guilt. It gets heavy but feels necessary. Until I realize I don’t have to wear it. What a great God we serve!
Needed this post today! You are so right — the enemy uses guilt and shame to keep us trapped. But we know better!! Thank you for the reminder to just keep celebrating Jesus and living in JOY! <3
I loved your article! It also reminded me of nonsinful things that the devil tries to make me guilty about. Thanks for sharing!
truly great…heart touching….praise lord,,