There are plenty of places and people in our world ready to condemn God’s people. While certainly not all, there are some—parents, coaches, teachers, politicians, even preachers—who make you feel like enough is never enough and your best always falls short.

But the harshest kind of condemnation comes when you put the word “self” in front of it. That’s when you start to believe the lie of satan. The evil one wants to take the word “condemnation” and attach “self” to it, leaving you burdened with guilt.

Guilt is either a gift from God to call us to do better or a tool of satan to make God’s People feel less!

And for ministers especially, guilt can feel overwhelming and exhausting:

That we didn’t do enough.
That we spoke too soon.
Or too late.
That we missed an event.
That we let the church—or the Lord—down.
That we weren’t there for our kids.
That we didn’t provide as well as we wished.
That our words were too strong.
Or not strong enough.
That we got something wrong.
That we were too tired to get it all done.
That we didn’t act quickly enough.
That we didn’t train enough.
That we didn’t persuade strongly enough.
That our faith wasn’t where we wanted it to be.
That we gave in to personal sin…

The list could go on and on. And for some of you, it already does.

But if today you’re carrying a load of guilt in your gut, lean in and hear God clearly:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1).

Those words are for you.
.
And those words set you free.

So let go of guilt. Live in grace. And be blessed!

Guilt?

The Jenkins Institute