Don’t Live In Guilt

“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1, NLT)

I made many mistakes as a stepmom. I remember a couple of particular times, when I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I yelled at my stepson like a rabid bear. He didn’t deserve to be the object of my wrath. He just happened to make a comment that set me off.

One of those times came back to bite me when he misunderstood some things I said and told his other family members. I felt like I lost his trust, and this created distance between us.

I tried to explain myself, but the damage was already done. I carried the burden of that guilt for years. Every time there was an issue in the family, I wondered if I created it. I wondered how things would be different if I hadn’t gotten angry.

Maybe you’ve been living under guilt like me. Perhaps your stepkids have held your sins over your head. Maybe you feel like nothing you do can fix the grievances between you.

Unfortunately, there’s not a time machine to go back into the past and fix the damage done. But there is something that could fix it—forgiveness. That’s something we all need from time to time because none of us is perfectly righteous (Romans 3:10).

We all need grace and mercy. Your stepchildren certainly needed it from you in the past and most likely will need it in the future. We all have to make the choice of whether to hold on to our revenge and bitterness, or let it go and trust God to judge.

Your stepchildren may not choose to forgive you. Even still, you can choose not to live with the burden of guilt. Have you tried to make amends? Have you owned your mistakes? Then you’ve done your part to establish a path to healing. All you can do is make the way available. The offended person must choose to walk down the path toward you.

Until then, enjoy the forgiveness you have in Christ. “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, ESV). There’s nothing you’ve done that is so terrible that God can’t forgive.

It’s even possible that God can find a way to use your failures to bring about future good. Throughout Scripture, we see God bringing beauty from ashes, and He’s still working out things for good today. Aren’t you thankful that nothing is impossible with God?

Prayer: Confess your sins to the Lord, and hold your hands out, opened to heaven, as a symbol of letting the Holy Spirit take away the guilt you bear.