Dear Reader: How can I move past guilt & shame for past mistakes or sins?
Question: How can I move past feelings of guilt & shame for past mistakes or sins?
Dear Reader,
Your question resonates so deeply with me, stirring memories of my own struggles with guilt and shame. It's a familiar battle, isn't it? One moment everything seems fine, and then suddenly we're dragged back into the undertow of our past mistakes.
I've been there, driving down the road, when a song comes on and I'm transported back to a moment of regret, pain, choices I’ve made. It's a struggle, no doubt about it.
But here's something crucial to remember: you are not defined by your past. No, not at all. In Christ, you are a brand new creation, washed clean by His love and forgiveness. Your identity isn't found in the mistakes you've made; it's found in the grace of our Savior.
And those whispers of shame and condemnation? They're lies. Straight from the pit of hell. Don't let them take root in your heart. Instead, stand firm on the truth of God's Word and rebuke those lies with every fiber of your being.
So here’s what I do and it helps so much.
The moment the thought comes into my mind and I feel the shame begin to rise, I cut it off. I say out loud, “NO!” Sounds easy right? Well it is. The hard part is teaching ourselves to be able to grab hold of the thought within a second before it grabs hold of us.
Instead of allowing the enemy to trap me in this cycle of shame and self-condemnation, I remind myself of the truth of God's forgiveness and unconditional love. The verse I go to often is this one,
‘there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ - Romans 8:1.
So, my friend, as you journey forward, remember this: you are loved. You are forgiven. And you are absolutely, unequivocally not alone in this. Lean into the arms of your heavenly Father, let His grace wash over you, and walk in the freedom He's already won for you.
With love and understanding,
Sarah xx.
I pray you enjoyed my first post for the Dear Reader section of my blog & Newsletter. I have so many beautiful messages every week in my inbox and thought what better way to not just answer their questions, but maybe their question could help someone else. So if you would like to submit a question, click the button below and submit yours. Don’t panic, no names or emails are published.
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