Guilt

Guilt doesn’t come from the things you’ve done but the things done to you – Alias Grace

Have you ever felt guilty?

I have. When I heard the quote above, it resonated with me… Because, sure I’ve felt bad about the things that I’ve done wrong. However, it’s been the wrongs done to me that have shamed me in such a way that have prevented me from being able to lift my head, meet the eyes of others, and even feeling such a despair and pain to the point wanting a permanent solution to what I realize, in hindsight, was a temporary guilt/pain/despair…

Some of the best advice that has been given to me has been to own only that which is mine to own. And let me tell you, it was the most freeing advice I’ve ever received.

See, all too often, we carry the guilt of the sin and shame of those things done to us. But, Jesus taught us that when we pray, pray: “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12 KJV

When we carry the weight of sin, of the sin that someone did to us, not only do we carry guilt and shame, we carry guilt and shame that isn’t ours to carry. We also carry unforgiveness. To carry unforgiveness means to hold a debt against the person who wronged us. Holding onto this debt, this debt that the blood of Jesus paid – this debt that the offender could never repay, puts us in position to not receive forgiveness from God.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

I encourage you, as I encourage myself, to free yourselves and others from the weight of shame and guilt through forgiveness. That we may also be forgiven.

*Original image courtesy of A.B. ☀️🤍🌸