Overcoming Guilt

Why do I feel so bad anyway?  It is natural. Unless I am a cold and heartless individual I hurt when others hurt and even feel like I may have caused it.  In a damaged relationship or time of hurt, I may feel guilty for things like:  I may have been able to stop it;  I should have seen this coming; I wish I could have done something different; if only . . .

I must keep in mind that everyone is responsible for their own choices and I did not make them do this.  I did not force them to act that way.  I will not take responsibility for their actions.  People do make mistakes and make bad choices which affect themselves and many others around them.

When I have turned it all over to God, what right do I have to hold on and keep beating myself up with an issue that is now His?  Turning loose of these feelings is very hard, but very necessary for me to be able to move on in the healing process.

David paints a beautiful picture of the loving and caring Father as a Shepherd who tends to us as His loved ones in Psalm 23.

I messed up.  I sinned.  I made a really bad choice.  I must take responsibility for my actions!  Yes, maybe it wasn’t ALL my fault, but I really know deep down inside that I am the one at fault.

The consequences will still be there.  I cannot go back and change the past.  I can change the present and future.

David, the great king and example in the Bible messed up big time by adultery, murder, and pride but when he realized it he asked for and received forgiveness.  Read Psalm 51 for a beautiful message of penitence.

Paul reminded us of that deliverance in Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV) “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.”

I am still too close to the problem and still feeling the pain I have caused and likely worried about the consequences of my actions.  My emotions get in the way of allowing the healing power of God to work in me.  However, I know that I can get better as long as I will trust my Maker to allow it happen.  We generally are not equipped to “turn off” feelings.  It takes time and opportunity for healing.

Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) “Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

I likely am not strong enough at this moment to deal logically with all these emotions by myself.  I must turn it over to my God!  Paul reminds us of this in Philippians 4:6 - 7 (NKJV) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

My true friends really want to help but may not know when or how.  I must give them an open door, especially those who have been down this same painful road.  Galatians 6:2 (NKJV) “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Continuing to dwell on the past, which I cannot change, does no good and keeps the wound raw.  Every time I go back there I must replace that thought with something clear, bright, positive, exciting, and something I look forward to.  Something like:

• “With God’s help I will be doing _____ within the next year”.
• “I have a plan in place to _____ within 2 years”.
• “I am looking forward to _____”.
• “My family and I are working toward ______”.
• “I will start a program to make myself feel better physically by ______”.

None of this is easy or fast but it is a necessary step toward finding peace and moving on in my new life.

John 13:35 (NKJV) “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Please consider our sincere offer to listen, talk, and share concerns about the future as well as an opportunity for Bible study together at any time.

For more information please contact us:
Killen Church of Christ
1560 Hwy 72E.
Killen, AL 35645
Phone 256-757-2918
kchurchofchrist@bellsouth.net