Self-condemnation

"For if our heart condemns, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God." (1 John 3:20-21) buy by

Guilt draws us nearer to God. Shame drives us away.

A clear way to see the difference between shame and guilt is to think about this question: If you made a mistake that really hurt someone's feelings, would you be willing to say, "I'm sorry. I made a mistake"? If you're experiencing guilt, the answer is yes, "I made a mistake." Shame, on the other hand, is "I'm sorry. I am a mistake." Shame doesn't just sound different than guilt; it feels different. Once we understand this distinction, guilt can even make us feel more positively about ourselves,” because drawing near to God offers us the opportunity to get it right.

Shame on the other hand is an indictment against ourselves, one in which some of us never recover. We take on the identity of the mistake and find ourselves in this vicious life cycle of dysfunctional thinking. Let us bring shame and put it where it belongs, “If my heart condemns me, God is greater than my heart.”

“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. (Romans 8:33)

GiGi❤️