July 2011
Welcome to the abounding-love
view for the month. "...God showed
His great love for us by sending Christ
to die for us while we were still sinners.
And since we have been made right in God's
sight by the blood of Christ, He will certainly
save us from God's judgment."1
What about guilt?
Once in a while, a letter
arrives that I must share. Since I know
many are struggling with guilt, I share
what this dear woman wrote:
"I'm twenty-five
years old. I just got married, and we
have a two-year old with another on the
way. I am writing to you because I read
that you found God and became a Christian.
First, let me tell you
that I am glad to hear that. I'm sure
that prison is a difficult place, and
I'm sure having faith helps a great deal.
Secondly, I have a question
that I hope you'll be able to help me
with. It has to do with feeling guilty.
I hope I'm not being presumptuous in thinking
that you might know a few things about
this.
I used to be addicted
to drugs, but I have been clean for over
two years. I have been living my life
right, being a good mom to my son, and
don't feel like there's anything I could
be doing better. But I still have all
this guilt about things I've done in the
past. I never hurt anyone. I was always
the victim of my choices, but I did things
while on drugs that I never would have
done otherwise.
I grew up a Christian,
and I know that the Bible says that when
we repent, God takes our sins as far away
as the east is from the west and gives
us a clean slate. Well, I have truly repented
for what I've done, but sometimes I get
these horrible bouts of guilt and shame
about my past.
I know that God won't
give us a spirit of fear, but will He
give us guilt? Or is that the devil attacking
our faith? Like in your case, did God
take your guilt away after you repented?
I'm just looking for advice here. I hope
you can offer some insight on this. I
know that if God can help you, He can
help me. I guess I'm just not sure how
to go about getting help."
We all struggle...
Shortly after I received
this letter, I had my own struggle with
guilt and shame. I found that it is okay
to struggle. There are no perfect Christians.
James -- the half brother of Jesus -- wrote:
"...when your faith
is tested, your endurance has a chance
to grow. So let it grow, for when your
endurance is fully developed, you will
be strong in character and ready for anything."2
As you know, I've been
writing my views on Restorative Justice
as part of Victim's Awareness. I asked a
friend to send me the Wikipedia pages on
my victims so I could become more aware.
After reading them, I learned a whole lot
more than I had known about their lives
and the great loss I had caused than I had
known before. My heart broke; my faith was
tested to the point of tears with feelings
of deep guilt and shame, while experiencing
the consequences of sin.
My faith was being tested
so I could develop greater endurance, empathy,
strength in character, and be ready for
anything. I didn't know I'd experience a
test by asking for these pages, but I'm
glad I did. By not keeping my head in the
sand, God was able to work in my heart to
show me again that He is greater than all
our past sins.
Consciousness of sin...
We have all broken God's
law, which haunts us with the knowledge
of sin. As a result, the whole world is
guilty before God, "...for by the law
is the knowledge of sin."3
Guilt comes from the consciousness of sin.
The pain that I caused my victims, their
families and friends, my family and friends,
and their communities, and even the world,
causes great guilt and shame for me. So
now I must remind myself what God promised
in the Scriptures long ago:
"We are made right
in God's sight when we trust in Jesus
Christ to take away our sins.And we all
can be saved in the same way, no matter
who we are or what we have done.
For all have sinned;
all fall short of God's glorious standard.
Yet now God, in His gracious kindness,
declares us not guilty. He has done this
through Christ Jesus, who has freed us
by taking away our sins. For God sent
Jesus to take the punishment for our sins
and to satisfy God's anger against us.
We are made right with God when we believe
that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing
His life for us."4
God is working...
I say to the young woman
who wrote me, that God is working in our
lives to build endurance and character through
faith in Jesus Christ.
"We can rejoice,
when we run into problems and trials,
for we know that they are good for us
-- they help us learn to endure. And endurance
develops strength in us, and character
strengthens expectation of salvation.
And this expectation will not disappoint
us. For we know how dearly God loves us
because He has given us the Holy Spirit
to fill our hearts with His love."5
The knowledge of God's
love empowers us to overcome the guilt that
afflicts us at times. His love at the cross
promises righteousness by faith.
"So just as sin
[and guilt] ruled over all people and
brought them to death, now God's wonderful
kindness rules instead, giving us right
standing with God and resulting in eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord."6
The key is to build a
consciousness of righteousness by faith
in Christ's finished work at the cross.
Struggles will come; endure them and build
character. God isn't finished with us yet.
The best is yet to come. And remember, "...there
is no condemnation for those who belong
to Christ Jesus."7
A Prayer for you...
Heavenly Father, my faith
is being tested as I struggle with guilt
and shame. I believe that you placed all
my sin; past, present, and future upon Jesus
at the cross. I believe that His blood cleansed
and washed me from all unrighteousness.
I proclaim freedom from guilt and shame
because of the blood of Jesus Christ. I
am redeemed. The price for my sin has been
paid. Jesus took my punishment on the cross
and rose again to give me the Spirit of
Life because of righteousness. I thank you,
Father, that I can now triumph over guilt
and shame through Jesus Christ. In Jesus
Name, Amen.
Scripture
References:
1 Rom. 5:8,9
2 James 1:3,4
3 Rom. 3:19,20
4 Rom. 3:22-25
5 Rom. 5:3-5
6 Rom. 5:21
7 Rom. 8:1
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
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