Greater Than Our Feelings

READ

So often, we feel guilty before God. 

Logically, we know that the cross has assured our pardon. We know that God’s grace has covered all our sin. We know that our guilt has been erased. 

Yet, what we know about our spiritual condition doesn’t always feel true. Sometimes, our inner critic’s booming voice drowns out God’s quiet whisper of assurance. 

We remain convinced that our sins are too grave to be forgiven. We buy into the lie that we are beyond redemption. We enter into God’s presence feeling guilty, ashamed, and condemned, rather than accepted, forgiven, and free. 

However, God’s Truth is more reliable than our feelings. His verdict is final and irreversible: “Not guilty” (Romans 8:33-34)! 

There is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Any condemnation we feel is no more than an illusion. 

Let’s take a moment to read 1 John 3:19-20:

We know that the truth lives within us because we demonstrate love in action, which will reassure our hearts in His presence. Whenever our hearts make us feel guilty and remind us of our failures, we know that God is much greater and more merciful than our conscience, and He knows everything there is to know about us. 

REFLECT

If there is any skill in this life I have mastered, it is the art of self-condemnation. 

Throughout my day, I meticulously assess my behavior. I ruthlessly critique every thought that passes through my mind. I berate myself for every unloving word I speak and every selfish action I take. 

What is astounding is God is even more aware of the depths of my depravity than I am—yet He chooses to forget my sin (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12). 

God doesn’t critique us the way we critique ourselves. He isn’t sitting up in heaven grading our conduct to determine if we are worthy of forgiveness. He isn’t keeping score of how many times we fail and fall short. 

The Good News is that God is far more forgiving and patient toward us than we are, even toward ourselves. 

While we look in the mirror and see a sinner, God sees a saint. While we may see ourselves as catastrophes worthy of condemnation, God sees us as children worthy of love and gentle correction. 

Our salvation is not dependent upon our ability to measure up to God’s glorious standard—if that were the case, none of us would know heaven. Rather, our forgiveness is dependent upon God’s unchanging character—His inexhaustible mercy, compassion, and love. 

Whereas our feelings of guilt may ebb and flow based on how well we are living in alignment with Christ’s teachings, His love for us remains the same. Even while our sense of self-righteousness fluctuates wildly, our salvation is stable and secure. 

Acknowledging our sin is the necessary first step to understanding our desperation for God. Yet awareness of our depravity is not meant to overwhelm us, burden us with guilt, or dampen our trust in His love for us. 

When we meditate more on our sin than our Savior, confession goes from a productive spiritual practice to a false religion all its own. When our thoughts are fixed on our mistakes rather than the One Who has forgiven us, we miss out on the joy of the Gospel. 

So even when our conscience condemns us, we can turn and rest in the eternal truth that God has forgiven us fully. His verdict is resolute. Our feelings do not nullify His decision to save us. 

RESPOND

Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read. 

• Which do you tend to trust more, your feelings of guilt or God’s promise of forgiveness? What would it look like to trust in Christ more than your self-condemning thoughts? 

REST

Take a moment to rest in God’s presence and consider one thing you can take away from your time reading, then close your devotional experience by praying: 

Father, thank You for forgiving me, even as my conscience continues to accuse me! You know the depths of my sin more intimately than I ever could, yet You have chosen to absolve me. Lord, help me to trust in Your finished work of salvation more than the condemning voices in my mind. Free me of all unnecessary guilt. Help me to live as Your chosen, forgiven, beloved child. Help me to acknowledge my mistakes, seek repair, and turn to worship, rather than ruthlessly berating myself. Amen.

Port City writer Kate Redenbaugh wrote today’s devotional.