Learning To Live Without Guilt

In review of Proverbs 28:13 it says, “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.”

Bottom Line:

Hiding or concealing mistakes and sins will lead one to failure. However, confession and repentance will allow you to receive mercy from God.

What this means to me:

Refusing to admit and conceal my mistakes and sins will only lead me to failure. However if I am truthful with myself, confess them and turn, God will show me his mercy.

The great thing about God is that he is always ready to give me another chance. It’s a bedrock piece of Christianity. There are plenty of times where I have been irresponsible or have screwed up. God’s Word tells me, “Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins” (Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT).

God doesn’t want me to live with a heavy guilt trip about all the irresponsibility in my life. Guilt destroys my confidence, damages my relationships, keeps me stuck in the past, and can even hurt my health.

The good news is that I don’t have to live with guilt. I believe that God wants me to live with a sense of promise and hope. From my experience God can even bring good out of the stupid decisions that I’ve made in the past as long as I give those faults and failures to him.

I do this by admitting to God I’ve made a mistake. It won’t surprise him. And it won’t change his perception of me. From what I’m learning, when I do, here’s what I can expect from God:

God forgives instantly. The very moment you admit your sin to God, he forgives you. God forgives freely. You don’t need to earn it, and you’ll never deserve it. God forgives completely. He wipes your sin absolutely clean.

If I allow myself to be mired in guilt and shame, I’ll likely perpetuate whatever problem I have. I’ll tell myself that I blew it, so I become bad. Since I’m bad, I believe I’ll blow it again. It’s a nasty cycle from which is difficult to escape, at least not on my own. That’s why I need a power beyond myself, I need a Savior, I need Jesus.

In summary, If I refuse to admit or conceal my sins I’ll be lead to failure, however if I am truthful with myself, confess them and then turn, God will show me his mercy.