• Decide to Forgive Yourself.

No matter how hard you try to find escape routes, you will always be tormented inside as long as you still consider yourself guilty. Once you are filled with guilt, you try to justify yourself. You will act in ways to have a clear conscience. It is time to forgive yourself. Look at what the Bible says:

“Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no longer any offering for sin” (Hebrews 10:18).

In other words, if you accept forgiveness, you will not have to seek to redeem yourself. This is why you should first accept God’s forgiveness; since He does not condemn you, you no longer need to justify yourself before Him. Whether it is a fault you have committed or not; remember, you can feel guilty because of someone else’s fault.

Decide to forgive yourself: there is no point in condemning yourself perpetually. For all the times you have fallen, forgive yourself.

Practice: Note down the faults for which you recognize being indirectly responsible (false guilt). Confess these words aloud: “I have been justified” (Romans 5:1). “I am forever free from all condemnation” (Romans 8:1-2).

• Decide to Forgive Others.

A very delicate step. It will certainly require maximum effort. Forgiveness is a choice; it is a decision. Often forgiveness goes against our notion of justice because we want revenge. Forgiveness is one of the most powerful keys to your liberation. Forgiveness is not about saying “I forgive you” but rather about no longer being indebted to someone. Decide to forgive all the people who are the object of your guilt. Whether it is a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a friend… forgive.

This text is an excerpt from the book “The Weight of Guilt” written by Joseph KUDIANANA.

We invite you to read the following article, “What Guilt Is.”