27 Helpful Bible Verses About Overcoming Feelings Of Guilt

Guilt. It may be a short five-letter word, but does it EVER wreak havoc on our lives? Do you want to learn the power of overcoming guilt as a Christian? Satan loves to keep us shackled in guilt. Find the grace of God’s forgiveness to let go and let God free you from guilt.

Do you wrestle with guilt, as much as I do? Overcoming feelings of guilt is a hard task. Especially when it comes to our loved ones affected by our choices. Surely I’m not the only one who wrestles with overcoming feelings of guilt, am I?

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For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. Psalms 38:4

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Overcoming Feelings of Guilt And Shame As A…

I have so much guilt that floods my thoughts at times that it makes it difficult to close my eyes and go to sleep. Then I feel guilty for even allowing these thoughts to consume me.

Why do we find it so hard to forgive ourselves when Jesus Christ freely forgives us? I want to be completely transparent and confess to you some of the guilt of sins that plague me before I go into “How” we can overcome guilt.

1. Wife

I realize this is petty crazy talk, but I sometimes can’t help it. I feel like the health issues surrounding my autoimmune disorders are keeping us from doing the things we enjoyed doing as a couple. Meniere’s disease affects your balance and equilibrium.

Mike and I love the amusement parks with the adrenaline of ziplining through the trees, parasailing, roller coasters, and spinning rides we loved doing those kinds of things. I’ve had 7-8 gentimycin injections in my left ear. Now I can’t put my head underwater without my left ear filling up with exceeded pressure and pain.

As soon as I get in from work I’m so drained that I don’t want to go anywhere and do anything afterward. We don’t even want to discuss curvy roads. Talking about feeling nauseous! I feel like I should receive the worst wife ever award!

2. Mother

If you have watched my God at Work video you already know that I was in an abusive marriage for almost 15 years. I blame myself for not leaving that situation sooner than I did. I wasn’t the only one affected by it, my children were too.

They witnessed way more violence than any child should have. I let my fear keep me chained and bound down to the point that I thought I was protecting my children by staying rather than leaving. In the long run, it did the opposite.

My daughter to this day gets nervous around crowds and wants to stay isolated. My son has turned to alcohol and drugs which has left him making horrible decisions. My son won’t even talk to any of the family because we won’t give him money, or whatever he’s calling for. We can’t enable him.

3. Daughter and Sister

When I decided to marry my first husband my family was NOT happy and that’s putting it mildly. My Mama came into my room one night and said if I decided to marry him she would not be able to look at me and told me I had to leave her home. She gave me the reason why of course.

God gave her a “vision” of what my life was going to be like. I was crushed because I was a good daughter. To still be a virgin at my age was unheard of. Did I understand my Mama’s side at this particular time? NO!

I went through with the marriage even though none of my immediate family was there. Needless to say, there were many years of having a strained relationship with my family. Of course, Mama was right and I should have listened! Again, this leaves me shackled in guilt. Can you relate?

4. friend

I don’t get to spend as much time as I would like with my friends anymore. I feel like I’m letting them down and I’m just a huge disappointment to them. The same issues that I have with my health apply here as well. Did I mention that I don’t call them like hardly EVER? That’s just wrong. The problem is I hate talking on the phone.

Since 2010, when my health started declining I have lost major hearing. It’s enough that I avoid the phone like it has the plague. People get tired of having to repeat what they say over and over. I have so many allergies, especially to animals. So I have to ask if people have pets before going anywhere. EVERYONE has pets nowadays. I’ve found myself comparing myself to their other friends. How wrong is that?

Steps For Overcoming Feelings Of Shackled In Guilt

1. Confess And Repent

When you’re starting to feel guilt rear its ugly head confess whatever the issue is to God then take it to Him in prayer. As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, we need the reminder of God’s forgiveness and the assurance that He’s truly forgiven us.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalms 32:3

For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Psalms 32:4

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalms 32:5

2. Pray

Pray one day at a time and ask God to help you see anything in your life seen or unseen that needs to be confessed and changed. For this, to work we must be honest with ourselves because God already knows. He longs for His children to come before Him in confession.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! Psalms 139: 23

And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139: 24

3. Forgiveness

As born-again believers and followers of Christ, it’s crucial to remember that God has promised to forgive our sins and made this possible through His only beloved son. Our redemption is paid in full by the bloodshed on the Rugged Roman Cross of Calvary. Jesus said, “IT IS FINISHED!” This is a promise you and I can place complete trust in every day.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

You forgave the iniquity of your people; you covered all their sins. Selah. Psalms 85:2

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:5

4. Ignore Satan

When guilt overwhelms you ignore Satan’s lies. Satan is the father of lies and wants to keep you bound and shackled. Remember God’s promise of forgiveness. Through Christ, we are justified in His eyes. 

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Psalms 103:8

He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. Psalms 103:9

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. Psalms 103:10

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him. Psalms 103:11

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

5. Restore Your Joy

STOP listening and believing Satan’s FALSE accusations. Stomp him and his lies beneath your feet! Don’t let Satan have free reign in your head. Pray for God to restore your joy that’s found in Him alone and give you freedom from the guilt that’s plaguing you.

Blessed Are the Forgiven

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalms 32:1

Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. Psalms 32:2

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. Psalms 32:3

For day and night, your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Psalms 32:4

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Psalms 32:5

Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. Psalms 32:6

You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Psalms 32: 7

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Psalms 32: 8

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Psalms 32: 9

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Psalms 32: 10

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! Psalms 32: 11

6. Jesus Frees You From Guilt And Shame

When you receive Christ into your heart…he remembers your sins no more! The guilt and shame of your sins are cast as far as the East to the West. We find it so hard to forgive ourselves when Christ freely forgives us. It is not your burden to carry anymore once you give your life to Christ.

YOU MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:

Lay your burdens at the foot of the cross and leave them there.

YOU ARE NOT MEANT TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

1. Keep yourselves shackled to guilt, mistakes, etc….that aren’t yours to carry anymore.
2. Try and play God and keep picking up what we’ve given to God!
3. You are to trust Jesus at his word. Condemnation No More.
4. God is a GOOD GOOD FATHER.
5. God isn’t going to keep reminding you over and over again of all your sins.

Friends, when you come to God with a surrendered heart and present yourselves openly to Him you receive His forgiveness. God doesn’t bring it up again nor does he write it down to throw it in your faces later. He forgives it and it’s gone.

Aren’t those the best words you can ever hear Y’all? Your slate is wiped clean due to the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Remind yourself that you make mistakes and will continue to do so on this side of eternity.

7. Shackled In Guilt? Let Go And Give It To God

Below is a video from Skit Guys that demonstrates how we want to hold on to guilt and shame even though God freely extends mercy to us!

Please watch the video below. Trust me you will be so glad you did.

The Skit Guys are amazing. My husband and I got to see them live on the KLove Cruise recently. They are extremely humble and genuine

The best part is that you will still be loved unconditionally by God. It reminds you of where you were and how far you have come. It gives you a new eternal perspective.

Your Turn

So the next time those unwanted feelings of guilt remember that NOTHING is wasted in your life. It’s a lesson that you have learned to help others overcome similar issues. Be the one that is willing to open themselves up and show this broken world that they too can have hope and that hope is Jesus.

I asked my sweet husband Mike, to read this before I posted it as I do with all of them. He is my proofreader you see and my biggest supporter I want to receive his confirmation that I don’t sound like some crazy person. Mike in his loving, gentle, and kind way says to me…”It is good but are you going to take your advice on overcoming guilt?” Ouch! So this is my reminder too!

Hey Friend, Thanks For Reading!

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