Looking Back with Grace, Not Guilt
December is filled with emotion. It arrives almost unexpectedly; although we know it’s coming, it still feels like a surprise. As we wrap presents, we're also wrapping up the year. We step back and look at either the perfectly wrapped gift or a job that's “good enough,” and ask ourselves, does my life deserve a bow on top? Then we realize that January 1st is soon approaching, and it will be time once again to make New Year's resolutions.
How can we make next year better than last without feeling guilty about broken promises?
The intersection of guilt and regret can lead to two different paths: either toward an abundant life or a dead end. When the sight of grace is no longer visible, grace becomes overshadowed by disappointment. Judas can testify to this. When he betrayed Jesus, his regret eventually overwhelmed him.
A man who also understood regret was Paul. Paul had been known for persecuting those who followed Jesus. He experienced a transformation after his journey to Damascus. Jesus renewed Paul’s identity, and Paul is credited with writing thirteen books of the New Testament.
In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he refers to himself as “the very least of all the saints” (3:8). In Romans 7:18, Paul describes the nature of sin by saying, “for I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.” His words might appear as self-hatred, but in their full context, they are far from it. His words genuinely demonstrate how repentant guilt can lead to renewal. Paul embraced this, while Judas rejected it. Both men felt shame, but their reactions were different.
How do you handle guilt?
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
In my personal journey, guilt has left its mark on my daily life. Remorse comes in waves. One day, I find peace with my past and learn to accept my story. Then, other days hit hard with triggers or flashbacks, and I find myself drowning again. It can be an exhausting cycle of mercy and mental rehearsals of how I wish I could do things differently. During those days, I intentionally remind myself of God’s grace. I pray that the Holy Spirit intervenes and prevents me from isolating myself in my thoughts.
I’m not exactly who I want to be, but thank God, I’m not who I was either. That’s the beauty of grace. God’s grace is free and unearned, and because He is love and He loves us, He lifts us, wipes our tear-stained faces, and sees us—not as failures, but as His beloved children.
What would your life look like if, when you look back, you see grace by releasing the guilt?
If this encouraged you, check out more articles from our Flatirons Spiritual Formation Team for practical tools, encouragement, and ways to grow in your faith and leadership. Click here.