4 Steps to Let Go of Guilt Through Confession

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The grocery store we frequented when I was a child had this beautiful display of artificial flowers by the entrance as part of the floral department. I was fascinated with these fake flowers that were always perfect, except once in a while a bloom would fall off onto the ground. How I wanted some of those pretty flowers.

One day, when my mom was busy trying to get the bags of groceries out to the car, I saw them. A handful of blooms fallen off their artificial stalks and lying on the ground. I quickly scooped them up and put them in my pocket.

I was thrilled to have some of those flowers, but the excitement quickly wore off as I realized I couldn’t play with them in the open. After all, I’d stolen them, hadn’t I? I couldn’t let my mom see them or let her know I’d done such a terrible thing. How could I have let her down like this? I knew stealing was wrong. I would never have stolen anything big, but these were so small… Such tiny things, and already on the ground, probably headed for the trash can anyway. My young mind swirled with these thoughts all afternoon.

That night, as I sat in the bathtub, I couldn’t contain it any longer. “Mommy,” I blurted out. “I did something bad today. I stole some flowers from the grocery.”

How Does Confession Conquer Guilt?

Confession is an essential part of our walk with Christ. It’s there in the Lord’s Prayer. You probably pray some form of confession on Sunday mornings. These are corporate reminders of the personal confession we need in our lives because we are all sinners.

Guilt is often our reminder that we have a burden on our heart, a sin we haven’t fully confessed.

4 Steps to Let Go of Guilt Through Confession

1) Define what is causing you to feel guilt. Get specific in naming your sin. Confess it to God, admitting your sins and asking for His forgiveness.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 NIV)

2) Acknowledge that you can’t change the past, but instead ask God for help to move forward. Your life doesn’t have to be defined by your past. God has bigger plans for your life than that.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV)

3) Ask God to show you where you need to change. What attitudes and actions need His correction and guidance?

Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24 NIV)

4) Accept God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Let His love wash over your soul.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:8-12 NIV)

I’m sure my mother was relieved that taking some flowers off the floor of the grocery was all that was burdening my young heart that night. They really were no more than trash, yet they were the perfect opportunity to teach me about doing what’s right. That day I learned it’s not right to steal, but I also learned the power of confession. My guilt at even this tiny offense was tearing me up, yet once I confessed and heard my mother forgive me, I felt free. Sure, I had to face the consequences for my actions, but my soul was no longer weighed down with guilt.

What guilt are you carrying in your heart? What confession do you need to make to God? Ask for His forgiveness and let Him lead you forward.

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I love this Release-Renew pendant from Compelling Creations. What a great reminder to let go of all that hinders us, so we can move forward with God.
Healing comes from releasing. Let go.
Letting go implies a partnership…
Letting go looks forward to the future…
Letting go lives out of grace and trust…
Letting go is trusting God to care for you…

If you want a guide to prepare your heart for confession (whether with a priest or alone with God), this book, Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church, provides exercises for self-examination to help you prepare for confession and reconciliation with God. {You don’t have to be Episcopalian to benefit from this book and its exercises.}

[This post is part of the Visible Faith series. Click here to learn more about this series on how to live a vibrant, visible faith.]