by Shauntel Raymond
Have you heard of mom guilt? We all know what guilt feels like but I didn’t feel real guilt until I became a mom. Ending each day thinking of all the things that I did or didn’t do right! It was so intense when my kids were toddlers. Social media has made it worse because you see other people making homemade organic bread and cutting their kids sandwiches in special shapes or making homemade baby food. What’s wrong with the jar of Gerber or the pre-made bread? NOTHING!
What about when we sin? Where does that guilt come from?
John MacArthur says, “The conscience is a built-in warning system that signals us when something we have done is wrong. The conscience is to our souls what pain sensors are to our bodies: it inflicts distress, in the form of guilt, whenever we violate what our hearts tell us is right.”
We are wired this way. The Holy Spirit is alive in us as believers. When we sin we are often immediately ridden with guilt and shame. You can also feel that before you are about to sin.
God always provides us a way out.
And He promises us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
He provides a way out! What a beautiful promise–to know I am not alone in the world–that I don’t have to face temptation all by myself.
But wait! There’s more…
The Lord promises us in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Read this verse every day, pray on it. Remember his faithful promise to you. Find someone you trust and share your burdens. Often just saying it out loud takes a big weight off your shoulders. Try finding someone you can meet with regularly to share and help keep you accountable. Also, find a small group. The beauty of a small group is you have a place to share and grow in your faith with people in a similar life stage.
Psalm 32:1-5 say’s “Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned. Happy is the person whom the Lord does not consider guilty and in whom there is nothing false.”
I know that I am forgiven but often I struggle with forgiving myself.
I pray each day and ask for the Lord’s forgiveness but I am not allowing for his gift and promises when I don’t forgive myself. There are many reminders in the Bible about being forgiven. Who am I to reject this blessing? You hear people say, “put the past in the past.” That’s exactly where it belongs. Ask for the Lord to remove your guilt and bring you peace.
You ARE forgiven and you ARE loved!
Remember this: “No power in the sky above or in the earth below–indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
