False guilt is a powerful tool Satan uses on us, so what is the process for dealing with false guilt? Where does false guilt originate?

Bad Thinking

False guilt originates primarily from lousy thinking. That wrong thinking demands terrible feelings and often leads to evil actions. You may be experiencing thoughts like, “I have a huge feeling of guilt, but I can’t understand why.” Unfortunately, our lousy thinking often comes from not being in God’s Word enough to see how God thinks about life.

It's crucial to recognize that false guilt does not originate from God. He sent His beloved son to liberate you (Galatians 5:1), so He has no intention of manipulating you with false guilt. This guilt is a tool of Satan. Often, false guilt is as straightforward as not fully embracing God’s profound forgiveness, or not accepting forgiveness from others.

The burden of the flawed statement, “I can’t forgive myself,” is lifted simply by accepting God’s forgiveness. This act of acceptance brings a profound sense of relief and liberation, knowing that God's love and forgiveness are unconditional.

Satan’s never-ending messages shout, “You have failed, you haven’t lived up to expectations, you have disappointed the people around you!” When you experience false guilt, you experience Satan’s deception and believe a lie. Changing your thinking to become healthy and distinguish between real and false guilt is imperative.

Take This Step

The first step to dealing with false guilt is remembering you have a new family. Consider St Paul’s words to the Church in Ephesus:

“[God] having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence…” - Ephesians 1:5-8

“…He made us accepted…” Do you understand this? Do you realize that you are adopted and accepted by God, not because of anything you did, but because of His grace? You are part of God’s family, which has liberated you from the bondage of sin. Like many, you might struggle to believe this because it seems too good to be true. But it is true, and it's a truth that sets you free.

However, the great thing about truth is that it remains true whether you believe it or not. You are freed from sin and loved as God’s very own child. Hallelujah! However, it is crucial to remember that if you do not feel this is true, Satan is deceiving you. This is another reason it is best not to trust your feelings. Your feelings in this situation will lead you astray by convincing you that this Good News about God’s love is not valid. Trust in the truth of God's word, not in fleeting feelings.