When Guilt Blocks Faith

Lately, I find my hunger for God’s Word is growing stronger and stronger. My desire to obey His Word and live in the fullness of His promises is taking priority.

Most of my life has lacked the fullness God promised John 10:10b, despite believing and having faith for it. I’ve asked myself, “What am I doing wrong?” and I’ve heard other believers voice the same question.

Recently my pastor told me, “You’re not doing anything wrong,” and I think that’s probably true for most of you reading this.

So, I asked God to show me what was short-circuiting the manifestation of His Word.

Last Sunday morning, He brought an answer. As I picked up my Bible for my daily reading, God told me to read 1 John. I’ve been reading through the Bible, so this meant a detour from where I currently was in my reading.

I found the gem God planned for me in chapter 3. “If we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him” (1 John 3:21–22 NLT).

But the fact was, I did feel guilty about something. That guilt had not only blocked my faith from working, but it also blocked my ability to receive His answers.

Why?

Because guilt affects our self-image. It makes us feel unworthy, that we don’t deserve what He has for us, even though we desire it. It can prompt all those negative emotions depicted in the image above.

Finding Freedom

Those verses from 1 John shone the light of Christ on my guilt (see Psalms 119:105). It enabled me to first recognize the guilt, and then to bring it to Him and ask forgiveness. And it set me free!

No more heavy weight in my gut. No more pit in my soul. Like stepping from a dark room into the full light of the sun.

Excitement filled me and my expectation went from zero to 100 in 1 second.

Don’t get me wrong. God doesn’t grant an answer to our prayers based on whether we are worthy or unworthy. He is faithful according to His Word; He is no respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34).

We are the ones who attach an unworthy status to ourselves. And Satan does everything he can to keep that unworthy belief firmly rooted in us because he knows how it impacts our relationship with God.

Are you feeling guilty about something? Take it to God and ask forgiveness.

“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:9 NLT).

Let the Word set you free!