Ways To Give

Guilt

Written by Katherine J. Kehler

I purchased an expensive picture for our bedroom. I had been looking for one since we moved into the house six years ago and finally found the perfect one. At least, so I thought at the time of the purchase. There was a catch, the sale was final, I could not return it if I didn’t like it.

To my utter dismay, after it was delivered and placed on the wall over our bed, I realized I didn’t like the picture. It didn’t look right in the room. The colours were too vibrant and the scene was not peaceful. The picture disturbed me greatly every time I walked into our bedroom.

Now I faced another choice – take the picture down and put it into the storage room or learn to live with it. The worse part wasn’t the picture, it was the guilt I felt over the price of the picture. I was losing sleep because I felt so terrible. The money could have been better used. For several weeks as I went about my work, this feeling of guilt kept gnawing at me.

One day while I was out walking, the Lord brought the promise in Romans 9:1 to mind, “Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” That is right, I thought, I don’t have to walk around with this guilt–I can confess it and Jesus Christ will remove the feelings of guilt. After all, that is why He died.

So I did. I admitted that my purchase was too expensive. I told God how badly I felt about it and claimed His forgiveness according to 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” My burden of guilt was removed immediately and in its place, joy now filled my life.

Through Christ’s death on the cross, God offers us freedom from guilt. Often, we don’t take the time to analyze our guilty feelings, nor take the time to admit and confess them and we suffer needlessly. Friend, do not suffer in silence. Confess to the Lord and know that He will be faithful to forgive.

Lord, thank you for dying so we can be set free from all of guilt and sin – no matter how big or small. Your blood has erased all of our sin. Thank you so much! Amen.

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