Letting Go of the Guilt Magnet

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and
did not cover up my iniquity.
I said,"I will confess my transgressions to the Lord."
And you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5 NIV

"Then I let it all out;
I said,"I'll make a clean breast of
all my failures to God."
Suddenly, the pressure was gone -
my guilt dissolved, my sin disappeared." Psalm 32:5 The Message

Recently my daughter made her First Reconciliation...in my day it was called First Confession. She has been learning about it all year and still it was a difficult concept to grasp. It's no wonder, I guess, for us grown ups can't seem to get it either. Like her, I have often struggled with the concept of sin, and needing forgiveness. I remember in my early twenties saying to a priest, "I really have nothing to confess. I've done nothing wrong." He must have left shaking his head, not brave enough to challenge me lovingly as Jesus did with the rich man in Mark Chapter 10. Yes, maybe I did "keep the commandments", but there were surely many areas for improvement.

Things started to change for me when I was taught that the meaning of the word "sin", was really "missing the mark". It was easier for me to see how often and in so many little ways, I missed the mark. I let myself get caught up in negative thinking and feelings. I failed to be thankful for the blessings in my life. I didn't put God first in my life. (The list goes on and on but it's between me and God!)I began to regularly "let it all out": to name my past mistakes, and present failures to God. At times in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, at times in private prayer. The forgiveness I received was like a pressure that was suddenly gone, a burden no longer playing on my mind.

I also noticed that guilt is like a magnet. If we have unconfessed sin in our lives, no matter what it is, it seems to attract more guilt. That magnetic force often makes us feel guilty for things we are not responsible for, for others' actions and choices, or for things we have no control over. The result is that we are carrying around loads of guilt - ours and others - and it is impossible to live a joyful life. Once I begin to admit to God when I missed the mark, I could also let go of the guilt that didn't even belong to me in the first place.

A final thought - in my marriage I discovered there are 3 words more powerful even than "I love you". They are "I forgive you". I pray that you will discover the transforming power of forgiveness, in your own relationship with God, and in your relationships with others.

Jesus, you call us to live out a life like yours - a high standard that we can't achieve without Your transforming love, power and forgiveness. Send your Spirit to gently point out when we miss the mark, and teach us to be more like You. Help us to seek forgiveness from You, so that we might be free to live in joy and peace. Help us to let go of the guilt which does not belong to us. Thank you for dissolving our guilt, and making our sin disappear, through your ultimate sacrifice. Amen.

Life Step: Ask the Holy Spirit to gently show you an area of your life where you are "missing the mark." Let it all out before God and ask His forgiveness.

More of His Healing Word: Psalm 103:12; Mark 10:17-22