Dealing with Guilt

2 Corinthians 7:10

Do you ever feel terrible for something that you’ve done?

Maybe you gossiped and later realized how hurtful your words were. Maybe you lied and later realized how could I be that person? How could I have said those things? D

id you realize that there’s a good way for us to deal with sorrow for our sin and a bad way? The Apostle Paul says in 2nd Corinthians 7 verse 10:

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. –2 Corinthians 7:10

During Jesus passion there were two disciples who wronged him grievously. Judas who betrayed him, but also Peter, who denied him.

Both were incredibly sorry for their sins and yet there was a very different outcome wasn’t there?

We think about Judas, overwhelmed with the guilt of what he had done instead of turning again to Jesus for his forgiveness and love. He committed suicide, thinking that God couldn’t possibly forgive that sin, it was just too great.

Peter on the other hand, who also felt terrible for denying his Lord, he yet held out hope that Jesus would forgive him and restore him. What joy must have filled Peter’s heart as he saw Jesus risen from the dead. When he approached him and he invited Peter “Come, follow me!” Restoring him again as his disciple.

God does want us to feel sorry for our sins, to be grieved over them, but he doesn’t want us to remain there. He wants us to turn to him, to trust him, and to find forgiveness and his love through His Son Jesus Christ. In him we have hope.

No matter what we have done, in Christ, who forgives all sin and all sinners. Amen.

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