"In The Grip of Guilt"

May 27, 2025 | By Chuck

Guilt is that familiar feeling of remorse for doing what we should not have done. Unfortunately, we know guilt all too well because we’ve all been guilty of doing the wrong thing. Guilt can be a good thing and help to guide our future actions away from wrongdoing. The problem is when we get stuck in the grip of guilt. Guilt can feel as if its grip is so tight it will never let loose.

             As normal and common as guilt is, we cannot afford to dwell there long. One who is stuck in the grip of guilt may struggle to focus on and accomplish normal everyday tasks. Overwhelming guilt can feel almost paralyzing and make it seem impossible to move forward. Being stuck in the grip of guilt can lead to depression and even cause us to question our relationship with God and salvation. Guilt can be a life-altering issue, so we must understand how to effectively escape its grip.

            Those stuck in the grip of guilt must do two things to overcome it. First, we must trust God to forgive our wrongdoing. God sacrificed His Son for our forgiveness. Trust God and His grace to forgive you. (Hebrews 8:12)(I John 1:7) Next, we must forgive ourselves for whatever is causing our guilt. You cannot move forward and will remain stuck in your guilt if you do not forgive yourself. We simply must forgive ourselves and forget the past failures that brought us such guilt.

            “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).