We all feel guilt from time to time. We feel bad when we disappoint someone or if we continue in a sin pattern that we know is wrong. Guilt can be helpful to us if it motivates us to change. That’s “good guilt”. But, there is also a thing called “bad guilt”. Bad guilt can sidetrack us with feelings of condemnation and feeling like a failure. “Bad guilt” leaves us feeling hopeless and helpless to change. So, the key with guilt is to not let the “bad guilt” beat us up. Instead, we need to use the feelings of guilt to form good habits that lead us away from sinful things and toward a life that honors God.
Video Highlights:
- Identify your triggers. Our habits are birthed from triggers in our lives. “Bad guilt” can be a trigger that brings us back to sinful habits that brought about the guilt and shame in the first place. And, in the short term, our sinful habits give us some kind of reward, so we want to keep doing them. It becomes a vicious cycle of guilt triggering sinful habits. We need to break this cycle by understanding that Jesus sets us free from the power of sin. We don’t have to be controlled by the things that create “bad guilt” (Romans 8:1-2)
- Replace the habits. Instead of letting the old habits continue, we can choose to replace bad habits with good ones. Instead of letting the enemy hold us back with condemnation, we can choose godly responses. A few godly habits are: reading and memorizing the Bible, meeting with a mentor and confessing your struggles, and praying for God to give you the strength to overcome whatever tempts you. (Romans 12:1-2)
- Experience the new reward. Instead of chasing temporary pleasures that bring on guilt and shame, we can choose to walk in freedom through Jesus. Instead of feeling bad all the time, we can feel empowered to overcome sin through Christ working in and through us. We can feel joy. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Don’t let “bad guilt” continue to trigger bad habits in your life. Instead, choose to walk in the freedom you have in Christ and replace sinful habits with godly habits.
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- What’s the difference between “bad guilt” and “good guilt”? Explain.
- What typically causes you to feel guilt and shame? What bad habit does it usually trigger in your life?
- Identify the temporary reward you get from your bad habit. Is it worth it? Why or why not?
- “When you feel guilt and shame, let it trigger good habits instead of sinful habits in your life.” Make a list of the good habits that can replace the bad ones.
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
