Freedom from Guilt and Failures

Key Scripture:

John 5:6 (KJV) When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Face it!

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Healing in the mind takes place when you are able to be free from hurts, guilt and failures. We have seen how God’s word helps us to overcome hurts and bitterness. In this sermon, we will see the steps to overcome guilt and failures. Many of us like to avoid dealing with guilt. But when it comes to your mind, the only way to overcome it is to face your guilt. 

Guilt and shame usually overlap. Guilt arises out of what we have done. Whereas shame comes from the place of who we are because of the sin we have committed.

Guilt comes to a person whose conscience is still in connection with the Lord. Such guilt keeps us from falling. When the disciples preached the gospel, people were pricked in their hearts that led them to salvation (Acts 2:37). These days we need to pray that wrongdoers will feel guilty and put an end to their life of sin! 

Steps to Overcome Guilt and Failures 

To experience freedom from guilt and failures, here are some steps you can follow:

Step 1:  Face your Guilt- Accept or Deny 

1 John 3:21 (KJV) “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.”

God has given us a conscience to convict is every time things go wrong. There is conviction but no condemnation in Christ.  If our conscience is clear, we needn’t be fearful. That is what scripture tells us that if our heart doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence in God. We can deny that guilt right away. But if we are responsible, we ought to accept the wrongdoing and seek ways to rectify/reconcile. Jesus said if you have anything against your brother, reconcile before presenting your gift to God (Matthew 5:23).

This step also applies to overcoming failures. It starts with what you define as failure. Failure is dependent on your goal. Not comparing with one another. For instance, for someone who barely wants to clear his exam papers, achieving that itself would make him glad. But for a person who wishes to get everything right in his exams, even missing the answer to one, can make him feel like a failure.

We need to understand that comparing yourself with the achievements of others is not the way to scale your success in life.

Instead you have to learn from your failure. 

There is always a scope for improvement. Failure mostly happens in your strategy. Strategize better next time. Evaluate all the options(all possible outcomes) and arrive at a goal. 

Step 2: Confess your sins 

Psalms 51:4 (KJV) Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Once you know that  the guilt you are feeling is valid, the next step is to confess your sins to the Lord. When King David sinned with Bathsheba, he went back to the Lord and confessed his sin, that’s where he received mercy from God. Same with Peter, Jesus had told him that he would deny knowing the Lord Jesus three times before the cock crowed twice. As it happened when Jesus looked towards, Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:61-62). That was Peter’s point of forgiveness and freedom from guilt. Judas never got that chance to look into the eyes of Jesus and weep in repentance over his fault and he took away his life.  This shows how important it is to confess your sins in order to be free from guilt! 

Step 3: Accept Grace 

Galatians 1:10 (KJV) For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Accepting grace means acknowledging that you are forgiven by the Lord and moving forward with a sense of peace. Let go of that shame and guilt. We cannot impress everyone and let that not be our goal. Like how the Apostle Paul said that if we have to please people then we cannot be a servant of God.

Benefits of Surrendering it to the Lord

Every time you feel Guilty and Fearful-See Christ your Savior

God can change your guilt or failure into a golden future. Look at the life of David, he sinned against God and every time he failed he ran back and fell into the hands of God. Ruth, a Moabite widow was able to find refuge under the God of Israel. We have so much hope when we surrender to the Lord.

Accepting grace can bring peace and freedom from shame.

CONCLUSION.

The Psalmist says like this, “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” (Psalms 130:3,4). The Lord knows our frame. In Him there is forgiveness, dear friend. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins (1 John 1:8-9). The word of God shows us the way we can be free from the guilt and failures that are plaguing your heart. Jesus asks you today, ” Wilt thou be made whole?”!