Feeling guilty

Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:7).

What makes you feel guilty? Do you feel a pang of regret when you pass on contributing to a fund-raiser for cancer research? Does your conscience bother you when another employee is a goof-off, but you keep your mouth shut to avoid making waves? Does it trouble you when you spend money gambling instead of putting it into savings?

What makes you feel guilty? Have you lied on a job application? Have you cheated on a test? Have you spread gossip that hurt someone?

What mistakes from your past weigh heavy on your mind? Did you treat your parents like dirt during the years that you lived at home? Do you regret never having a close relationship with your brother or sister? Do you wish you had shown your spouse greater love and appreciation during the years of your marriage?

What keeps you awake at night? Do you miss the child that abortion took away? Do you kick yourself for having an affair? Did you sabotage a friend’s relationship with a lover because you were jealous of them?

Do you worry about your relationship with God? When they were growing up, did you let your kids stay in bed instead of insisting that they come to church with you? Have you let opportunities to speak of Christ with others slip away unused? Is the Bible in your house buried in a pile of papers somewhere or covered with dust because you never open it? Has it been years since the last time you prayed to Jesus?

If you feel guilt, you’re not alone. Everyone in your life has a closet filled with skeletons. Everyone you know has done lots of things worth feeling guilty about. Some people try to ignore the guilt; they just fill their lives with distracting pleasures. Others try to make up for their mistakes by volunteering or contributing to a charity. Some are so troubled by guilt that they end up committing suicide. But guilt doesn’t have to dominate your thoughts or steal your sleep. Jesus offers you forgiveness. Accept His offer to be your Savior and He will ease your troubled mind. You can’t change the past, but the Son of God has the power to bring something good out of your mistakes. Pray to Jesus. Tell Him you’re sorry; ask Him to give you a new lease on life. I can assure you that you won’t regret it.