Guilt The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Lots of us are thinking about gifts – giving and receiving. There’s a gift that’s mentioned often in recovery circles: “Guilt – the gift that keeps on giving.” Guilt reminds us of our wrongful actions and thoughts. How we wish it wouldn’t.
God made us with a conscience where guilt reveals to us our wrongdoing. The Bible records that the first humans knew they had done wrong when they disobeyed God’s instructions. Because of their guilt, they hid from God and tried to cover themselves. We, at times, continue to act just like the first humans. Neither of them accepted the blame for what they had done but tried to place the blame on another.
God said to the man, …Did you eat fruit from that special tree? I told you not to eat from that tree!” The man said, “The woman you put here with me gave me fruit from that tree. So I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What have you done?” She said, “The snake tricked me, so I ate the fruit.” (Genesis 3:11-13 ERV)
Guilt can become a true gift to us when it reminds us to deal with our wrongdoing so that we can be at peace with God, ourselves, and others. If we do not deal with our wrongdoing, guilt will fester and turn to shame. It is shame that causes us many problems. Sometimes we try to overcome the shame we feel by justifying the offence or by using our substance of choice to help us feel better. Neither of these options work. When we repent and confess to God what we have done, He will forgive us and we will be freed from harmful shame. Then we will have a pure heart to go to those we have harmed and seek reconciliation.
Guilt is a blessing that keeps on giving when we repent and seek forgiveness for the wrongs we have done and ask God to remove all our shortcomings.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to quickly deal with guilt when I have done wrong. Also, help me to forgive others for their wrongful acts just like you have forgiven me. Amen
©2021 Partners in Hope
Audio for Guilt The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.