Guilty?

Beloved Husband told me last night that he felt guilty. I asked “Why?” “Because there’s so much that needs to be done and I can’t do it.” Of course not!!! Even sitting still, the talon bone spur in his shoulder is pressing into the hole it made in his tendon. It cuts wider and deeper with movement. His comment, along with another’s devotional, sent me seeking, and thinking.

These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:25-27 KJV)

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7 KJV)

How can we feel this peace when we feel so guilty? We know our own wrongdoing, whether it’s breaking man’s societal laws or God’s holy commandments. We need to feel guilt for those until we’ve cleared them.

Stop breaking man’s laws, which were set to keep society safe and secure. That’s fairly simple – but we continue thinking of them as major and minor, continually breaking the minor ones. I heard someone describe a speeding ticket as the tax for driving fast instead of looking at it as a safety feature to protect drivers and those around them. We become hardened, inured, and we ignore those laws that tend to impact our daily lives.

We break God’s commandments just as easily. We ask His forgiveness and believe the Bible when we’re told that our transgressions are gone.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:12 KJV)

We may, however, think of some as minor and neglect to confess them. Guilt then is appropriate, and we may be disciplined. We also know that God’s discipline is applied in love and with mercy.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:9-11 KJV)

Though our goal is to emulate Christ’s perfection, we depend on Him for support in doing so. With His support, we can believe His promise:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 KJV)

When we have obeyed man’s laws, have confessed our sins against God’s law and repented, there is no more need for guilt. No need to feel as if we did something wrong. We are the children of God, accepting His discipline when required and His forgiveness as promised. False guilt can quench the Holy Spirit just as quickly as disobedience to God does. And, it can create a pattern if not cleared.

Should guilt remain though we have been obedient and/or confessed our failures, it most likely is false guilt. False guilt can erode our faith, removing that support available to us and removing our sense of peace. Give those feelings of guilt to God in prayer, too. Ask Him to cleanse, then accept the peace He has promised. It is freely available, and just as freely given.