Grief Counseling for Depression Caused by Guilt

Good Grief Counseling for Depression Caused by Guilt

by Donald Louis Giddens 2006

No one but you knows the traumatic emotions you are going through if you are living a life of depression because of past failures and sin.

You cannot forgive yourself. You think you deserve to afflict yourself rather than accept the joy, peace and righteousness God offers in His Son. You think being a Christian means to kick yourself the rest of your life for your sin. Wrong! Being a Christian is to accept forgiveness. Jesus died for your sin! You do not have to!. Jesus carried your sorrow. You cannot carry them. I hope you will find the joy and comfort God offers freely in the following verses.

We forgive you. We will be your friends.

Don and Minnie Giddens

Jesus died for our sins[i]- all of them. If Jesus died for them you do not have to make yourself pay for them the rest of your life. Instead, let it go, and accept God's forgiveness when you admit your guilt[ii]. Accept His forgiveness. You know He will never remember them any more. The alternative is to not forgive yourself, not to accept His offer of forgiveness by dying for that sin, and living your life in guilt and remorse. Then, facing God who will ask the question, "Why? I sent my Son to die for the worst sin."

Jesus died for our sorrows. We sometimes glory in the valleys[iii], and have been accustomed to carrying our pain so long we want to keep on. Our sin is something we think demands a lifetime wallow in sorrow and depression. You do not have to pay for your sin by dying. You do not pay for your sin by sorrow. Jesus carried our sorrows on the cross. Every lash on His back was for your sorrow. Every brutal blow was because for your sorrow. So, my friend, let go, and let Jesus carry every tear. Every howling accusation leveled at Jesus was for you sin. He paid it all.

He arose victorious over sin and death. Do you think when He came out of the tomb He was still carrying your sorrow? Of course not: He left it all in the tomb. Removed it as far as the East is from the West, never to remember it again!

Our sins are gone. Our grieving has been done. We won. Jesus won for us.

Suppose you were convicted to the electric chair for murder. Guilty. Heaven's doors were closed. Eternity loomed ahead with grief that never left for your sin. YOUR sin. Then, suppose the Judge, the Righteous Judge, would say, I know you deserve the penalty. I know you cannot avoid death, but I am going to die with you. We are going to be buried together six feet deep. And in three days I AM going to bring us out alive. Free! The guilt paid. Joyful- the sin and shame gone!

When Jesus died on the cross we died with Him.

When He arose we arose with Him.

Our life now is hid in God.

Please pray this prayer of thanksgiving-

Heavenly Father,

Jesus wept enough for my sin of ________. I weep no more.

Jesus paid enough for my sin of___________ I pay no more.

I cannot weep enough. I cannot pay enough. I am poor, naked, blind, helpless.

All I have is Jesus.

Thank you, Father, for sending your Son to die for my sin, and my sorrow.

I offer to you my joyful praises forever.

Amen.

Please e-mail us and tell us if this message hit home. E_mail Don Giddens

Isaiah 53.3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.