One More Thing with Pastor Tim Burchill 7.24.2023

The Jesus Guilt Cure


    When I was in seminary, I remember reading a psychologist who said that guilt is healthy if it lasts no more than five minutes or results in a change of behavior.  I put the book down and thought: “Lord, my life is nothing but an onion with layer upon layer of unhealthy guilt.”  Later on, I read a theologian who said that guilt is destructive to the soul unless it is first openly and completely confessed to God and then taken to the one we have offended to confess again and ask for their forgiveness.  Again, I despaired when thinking of all the people in my past I would have to seek out and make amends to.


    Guilt that lingers, regret that nibbles around the edges of our thoughts are termites to the soul.  It is to be chained to the past when Jesus tells us to do all we can to focus on the here and now.  There isn't anything Jesus can’t forgive.  His grace is always greater than our sin and brokenness.  Asking for his forgiveness, listening to his response, carrying out a dialogue which allows us to 'let it go and trust it into his hands' is not an easy thing to do.  Not by a long shot.  But it is a prayer that he is eager to hear and ready to say Yes to.  It is the only way I know of to rebuild the bridges we have damaged and strengthen the relationships we need to become the women and men God has created us to be.

 

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