Everyone who has lived long enough has gone on a guilt trip!
We go on this trip either, on a road lined with signs that point to denial, rationalisation, lies and other-centred blame, or down the path marked by honesty, confession, forgiveness and repentance.
Sadly, most of us speed down the former.
There are biblical characters who handled guilt in ways that are typical.
Genesis 3 tells of how Adam and Eve disobeyed an explicit instruction. Realising they have sinned, and burdened with guilt, they played the blame game.
Matthew 27 narrates how Judas Iscariot, weighed down with the guilt of betraying a close friend, sped down the path that ended with him dangling from a noose.
Our society today teems with people who are guiltless, at least in their eyes. Most of us have become pro-athletes in the blame game. It is easy for us to blame something or someone, or make excuses instead of owning up. In the event we acknowledge we are wrong, like Judas, we end it.
Guilt in itself is not bad. It is our reaction to it most times that is wrong. The bestselling American Author, Gretchen C. Rubin rightly said, “Negative emotions like loneliness, envy and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they’re big, flashing signs that something needs to change.”
Negative emotions like loneliness, envy and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they’re big, flashing signs that something needs to change.
– Gretchen C. Rubin
As feeling beings, guilt is one of the best gifts God has given us. It is a thermometer, an indicator which alerts us to abnormalities – the presence of sin – in our lives. A wrong response to it plunges you into the quicksand of transferring blame from yourself, making excuses or needlessly and fruitlessly atoning for your sins.
Forgiveness is the remedy for guilt. Whenever you go on a guilt trip let your motivation be repentance, and destination forgiveness – forgiveness from whoever was wronged of affected.
Whenever you go on a guilt trip let your motivation be repentance, and destination forgiveness.
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Ultimately, forgiveness can only be found in Jesus Christ. He is the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world. Every sin! Any sin! If you own up, Jesus is ‘faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from all unrighteousness.’ 1 John 1:9.
Let guilt take you back to God, to his mercy and grace!
One key way I make the most of my day is to start the day off asking God for forgiveness for anything wrong I have done, said or thought about.
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nice 1,i never new their ar different ways to deal with guilt. . . I will be glad if u can list down some ways to do that.
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Hi Josh! Thank you for reading the post and taking time to leave a comment. Yes people respond to guilt in different ways: some blame others like Adam & Eve in the garden, accept they are wrong but they allow guilt to weigh them down to the extreme point of committing suicide like Judas Iscariot. The best way to resolve guilt is to accept it and allow it to lead you to seek forgiveness, from the person wronged and from God. Remember, Jesus is always ready to forgive and cleanse if we sincerely confess our wrongs. Thanks once again.
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Knowing that there is no innocent bystander helps you own up to your guilt.You wont rationalize if you knew your contribution to the sin or the what ever sent you on the guilt trip. what could help i will suggest, is to apportion blame correctly. When you are apportion the blame correctly, its easier to come to God with your contribution to that sin and even forgive those whom you blame
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Uncle Ambrose, thank you for that helpful feedback. I agree that the understanding that there is no innocent bystander helps one to own up. Also, I like the perspective of apportioning blame correctly. Thank you sir. I believe you and the family are doing fine.
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