Have you ever seen the movie "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" Gilbert has to care for his brother Arnie and his obese mother, which gets in the way when love walks into his life. He has to choose between his family and himself. The guilt that he must feel!
Guilt is a terrible feeling and most times the guilt we feel is not on us, and by that I mean, it's not our fault. We can feel guilt about a lot of things, issues that may be going on in our lives, choices that we made, people that we have allowed in our lives, having to carry the weight of your family on your shoulders, there are so many reasons to feel guilty. We may even feel guilty about things that people have said to us or even done to us, feeling that it was our fault and we "asked for it."
The woman at the well experienced this type of guilt. She felt guilty about her circumstances, which is why she went to the well at the time of day that she went. "Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” John 4.4-7
She went when the sun was high and no one would be at the well, she obviously didn't want to be seen. I can imagine that since her life was an open book that the women in the village would have discussions about her at the well during the normal water drawing hours which was usually before the sun was high. I'm sure she did not feel like dealing with the ridicule, she must have been embarrassed about her life, felt guilty because she had been dismissed not once, not twice but five times! "He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” John 4.16-18
She had been divorced FIVE times and in those days it was the men who initiated the divorce and the women had no say. Can you imagine the guilt she felt in not being good enough to keep a man and then at the same time she was laying with a man who was not her husband. How many of us have been dismissed and felt guilty because we thought it was us and so we run to whoever gives us the time of day because we feel that this is the best that we can do considering no one of worth would want me! The woman at the well had a lot to deal with and here she is about to have her life changed by one encounter, one chance meeting that was divinely orchestrated by God. Jesus made her an offer that he couldn't refuse. He offered her a drink from the fountain of living water, he gave her a second chance. When she finished her conversation with Jesus she left her pot and ran back to tell everyone about Jesus. One thing I noticed about this particular scripture was that she left her pot, everything that she had brought with her to that well, all the guilt, the hurt, the low self-esteem, the feeling of unworthiness, she left behind with her pot. That's what we need to do, we need to realize that Christ came, bled and died and rose again so that we don't have to feel the guilt that is brought on by our past. The enemy uses guilt to keep us in bondage. We need to understand that we are human and we will make mistakes, we will make choices that are not right, there will be people in our lives who try to blame us for their short comings, but we have to pray and ask God to help us forgive ourselves and to help us to forgive others. We must lean on God and ask him to give us the wisdom that we need to stay away from making wrong choices, the power to ignore those who try to make us feel guilty when in fact it is them who have the problem.
Guilt is a serious thing, people kill themselves because of guilt. We must never allow our past, our current situation cause us to feel guilty. "Guilt is a feeling that is very similar to anger, fear, and shame. However, guilt makes one feel trapped by negative forces. It causes a person to feel out of control. It keeps a person in darkness and it makes a person feel worthless. It is bondage." God's Power to Help Hurting People; Colleen Birchett, Ph.D.
The enemy likes to keep us feeling guilty, however, there is hope, if you maintain a relationship with God, who loves you, you can and will overcome those feelings. Know that God wants us to live abundantly and guilt free and if you just trust him, he will keep you. Read the story about the woman at the well, John 4, and see just how Jesus changed her life! Just as he did for her, he can do for you. If you are struggling with guilt, turn to the only one who can help you - God. He promised that he will be with us always, he will never leave you nor forsake you. Try him at his word - you will see and feel the difference. One day at a time, nothing is immediate in life, everything is a process, just be obedient and patient and let the devil know that he can no longer keep you bound by guilt - you are free in Jesus' name!
There is Power in the name of Jesus to break EVERY chain, not some, EVERY chain!!!!
Get free from the chains of guilt! Your life depends on it! I commit to living guilt free! Will you commit with me?
Thanks for reading! Love ya! Keisha Natalee Cole
Men and women often use guilt as a control mechanism in relationships as well. If they want something or feel they have been slighted they play the guilt card to make their partner feel guilty. This is not a healthy way to deal with things. We need to stop trying to control each other and communicate with one another. What are some other ways that guilt play a part in our lives, and in our relationships? Let's talk.