New Year: Drop the Guilt

By Devin Dummel

With a new year, and a new start come fresh expectations for what could be if we just stay dedicated.  Maybe you set some goals, or objectives that you would like to accomplish for this year.  If you did write down some goals –  congratulations!  Way to Go! –  many people don’t even make it that far.

They know from experience that most goals don’t get met, and when they don’t meet the goals they’ve set for themselves, it leaves them feeling depressed and guilty.  It’s no surprise that they would rather not set goals, for the simple fact that they don’t want to add any more guilt to their lives.

Anytime we believe we’ve failed we begin to carry guilt.  We also feel guilty when we compare ourselves to others.  It’s a natural thing to do, but it is something that can be so damaging.  This is especially true in the area of our own spiritual growth.  It’s easy to look at someone else’s life and think that they’ve got it all together.  But the truth is while we are watching them and taking notes on how we don’t measure up, we are unaware of their struggles and the areas where they themselves are seeking spiritual growth and maturity.

But while we are measuring things up, God is doing something quite different.  And really when we think about the guilt we carry, the real issue isn’t that we don’t meet our goals.  The issue is that we have an improper view of God.

Have you ever asked yourself, “How do I view God?”

Is God someone who is disappointed and angry at you for not consistently meeting his goals and expectations?  Or does God handle our ‘failures’ differently?

The scripture teach of a much different view of God, they show a God who is patient and forgiving, not wanting any to miss out on eternal life with him.  When God sees our sins and our failures, He is saddened and heartbroken.  He wants what is best for us – and He knows that carrying around a ton of guilt is not what is best.

This week, as you continue to make this year the best it possibly can be.  Focus on getting rid of the guilt that you are holding onto.  Accept God’s forgiveness, through the gift of His son Jesus, and start worrying less about meeting spiritual goals and more about coming to a better understanding of who God really is.

It’s time to drop the guilt.