Be free from guilt, God loves you

Have you ever had a thought from your past just reach out and grab a hold of your mind? You are just going along with your day and all a sudden, a thought from your past just pops into your mind. Maybe it is just me who deals with this, but I doubt it.

We all have an enemy named Satan who prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. I think pastors, teachers and other leadership who speak often in front of people deal with this a lot. There is a certain pressure that rests on us that not everyone experiences.

I know there are times a thought enters my memory of a time when I said something in the pulpit I should not have. Or I went to say a word and something else came out. I feel guilty and I feel shame when this happens.

Those thoughts try to grip me and try to tell me that I do not measure up. Those thoughts try to tell me I am inadequate.

As I have grown older, these thoughts have been used by God to change me for my good. My heart is now filled with a grace of understanding. When I listen to others, I am not walking in a spirit of criticism and comparison. If it is a message or a sermon I am listening to, my heart is tuned in to receive something from the message that will have a positive effect on my life.

Around 12-15 years ago, I had been listening to a news conference by President Obama. There was a clip of the conference that was played by the news outlets repeatedly that infuriated me. President Obama was answering a question and a reporter interrupted him. The president reacted, “Hold on ‘little lady.’ Let me finish my sentence, and then you can respond!” I thought he was rude, I thought his tone was off, and I thought the “Little Lady” response was uncalled for.

I was so upset, I called into Bill O’Reilly’s radio show to discuss this with Bill. Mr. O’ Reilly said something that changed my life forever. Bill said, “Dave, you need to give the president some slack. He is under a microscope constantly. He prepares for hours; he speaks at one venue and then travels to another. He gets tired, he gets hungry. I have said the wrong thing and had the wrong perspective. For those of us who are speaking in front of people often, it is bound to happen.”

Wow! I have a new respect for those who are on the platform since that conversation. I have also learned to cut myself some slack as well. Let us be mindful of the pressures upon other people and give them grace.

So maybe it is something else you feel guilty about. Maybe, you did something in your past that holds you bound in guilt and shame. 1 John 3:18-20 says, “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”

The key verse for what I am talking about here is obviously verse 20. However, I included verses 18 and 19 because everything we do concerning God and people has to do with how we show love to God and people. Verse 19 said, “Our actions will show that we belong to the truth.”

Sometimes, we do things that are misunderstood, or mishandled by others. Here we are trying to do the right thing and the Godly thing, and someone spins it in a different direction. That “talk” is a tool of Satan to take you out! It wants to take you out of doing what you know is right and good for others.

Just because people do not see your good heart and motive, do not allow that to make you feel guilty. Do not be discouraged by those who can’t see what God sees in you. Why? The Apostle John explains it in verse 20: “Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.”

God knows you. He knows your heart, your thoughts, and God also knows the reason why you did what you did, and why you do what you do.

God’s love for us is unconditional, so stop treating God like he parents with skills executed by a parent who runs a dysfunctional household. You can confess your sin, shame and guilt to God. He will not be surprised because he already knows.

Do not be discouraged by people who mention your past to hurt you. Do not be discouraged by those who misunderstand you.

Do in love what God lays on your heart. Galatians 6:9 says, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest.” People may not understand your direction as a parent, as a pastor, as a business owner, etc. However, If it has been birthed by the Holy Spirit. God most definitely understands your direction. Keep loving one another, including your enemies because God sees it even when others do not.

Have a great week.

Dave Truncone is the pastor of First Assembly of God Church in Van Buren. He is married to Heidi and they have two daughters, Hannah, and Abigail. They live in Van Buren.