Letting Go of Guilt

Letting Go of Guilt

Guilt. We all deal with it. Sometimes on a daily basis. We fight the invisible battles within our minds, adding comparison and insecurity to fan the flames. I have been reading in Luke this month and in chapter 22 Jesus warns Peter of his upcoming denial and a few verses later it happens and the rooster crows and then

Luke 22:61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter...

That stops me in my tracks and I have to catch my breath! Peter heard the warning and professed his loyalty to Christ, yet still claimed to not know him! And Jesus looked straight into his eyes. Talk about feeling guilt.

My guilt may not stem from the kind of thing that Peter faced. My guilt may come from being impatient and yelling at my kids, neglecting my time with God, not making that phone call I know I should, giving my husband the silent treatment when I am upset, or eating that dessert when my clothes are telling me not to. We all have our own battles to fight, but we have guilt in common.

Guilt can become Satan's playground. He whispers,"You aren't good enough and you never will be.  Give it up, this is a joke.  How many times will you fail before you quit." 

I know his whispers well and I bet you do too. For far too long I would listen to these and be sidetracked, frozen in my failings, unable to move forward. But I have recently had another thought about this scene from the life of Christ. I always pictured the look on Christ's face as deep hurt and disappointment because that's what I would feel. But what if it was just love that Peter saw on His face? Not the scathing how-could-you look, but the I-still-love-you look. Undeserved, unmerited, just-like-Jesus love.

And what if the thing that caused Peter to weep bitterly wasn't just guilt, but a truly repentant heart? Guilt may be the way we get there when we come to grips with our sin, but guilt can't be our final destination.You see there is a big difference. Guilt holds us in it's grip and keeps us wallowing in our pit of despair. Repentance gives us hope because Christ loves and forgives, in spite of our failing. And so, we arm ourselves with the Word of God and we begin to fight back against the whispers that seek to make us less than God intended.

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

For His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Lam 3:22-23

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Look back at Luke 22:32 when Jesus is warning Peter of what he will do.

"But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Christ knew what Peter would do, but he didn't cut him off. He counted on his repentance. Guilt keeps us chained to our sin and focused on ourselves. Repentance turns our focus back to Him. We weep over our sin, give thanks for His forgiveness, and move forward in His freedom. Jesus still had a plan and purpose for Peter AND for us. He is holding out His arms to us. We can never be good enough, that part is true. But I don't have to be. Thank God for the blood of Jesus that paid for all my guilty stains and I am choosing to climb out of that pit and into His arms.