Allow me to introduce you to a fabulous woman-- Heather Boersma.
This incredible lady friend of mine is a public speaker, an author, a blog writer, and a new mama to the cutest little boy ever! I'm happy to have her here today. She's a rockstar!
Today we are writing on one anothers' blogs-- talking about a common issue that most of us woman struggle with: GUILT.
Definitely stop by her blog and check it out! It's a lovely place :)
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First of all I’m so excited to be writing for you amazing readers of “Finding Beauty in the Ordinary”.
Heather is such a great girl and I’m honored to be sharing on her blog today!
For most of my life I thought the horrible feeling I had when I sinned, the feeling of guilt, was from God.
For most of my life I thought the horrible feeling I had when I sinned, the feeling of guilt, was from God.
When I sinned, I felt conviction and tried to make things right. But sometimes, even after apologizing to the Lord or the person I’d wronged, the guilty feeling continued. In fact even into my early twenties, I carried guilt for mistakes I’d made as a child.
A few years ago I shared this with my Grandma and explained how I felt I deserved the difficult circumstances in my life, as a punishment for my sins. A deep sense of guilt hung over me constantly.
She did not agree.
“Heather, God is a loving Father and he disciplines his children, but this kind of guilt is not from God.”
Her words brought freedom.
Guilt is not from God.
Conviction, yes. But guilt, no.
In fact I now see that this kind of guilt is an idol.
When we spend more time thinking about and feeling bad for all the ways we’ve screwed up, messed up, and fallen short, does it bring any glory to God?
Does our guilt bring glory to the Lord?
If not, then what purpose does it serve?
Yes, our guilt can lead us to repentance, but if we chew on it a moment longer than simply allowing the bitter taste to turn our hearts to confession, it is no longer bringing glory to God.
It is stealing his glory.
Guilt steals from the power of the cross. It says that what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us, in shedding his blood and giving his life, was not enough. Enough for some people, just not enough for me.
This convicts me big time because I do struggle with guilt. I feel guilty when I don’t spend enough quality time with my son. I feel guilty when I’m impatient with my husband. I feel guilty when my day is not “productive” enough, or when I have a negative thought about someone.
But all of this guilt, if it is not leading me straight to the foot of the cross with a repentant heart, serves no purpose at all.
Are you plagued by feelings of guilt? Are you mistaking it for conviction? My prayer for you today is that you’ll take your guilt to the cross and allow the amazing power of God’s grace to set you free.
In doing so you will bring more glory to God than feeling guilty ever could.
But all of this guilt, if it is not leading me straight to the foot of the cross with a repentant heart, serves no purpose at all.
Are you plagued by feelings of guilt? Are you mistaking it for conviction? My prayer for you today is that you’ll take your guilt to the cross and allow the amazing power of God’s grace to set you free.
In doing so you will bring more glory to God than feeling guilty ever could.
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Isn't she amazing!?! :) I told you so.
