How to Let Go of the Guilt and Shame

2. Confess to Him all that is on your heart – 1 John 1:9 tells us: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”   Notice the verse says He will purify us of “all” unrighteousness — even the acts we believe are unforgiveable. King David committed some pretty heinous acts, including adultery and murder of a close associate of his. And yet, when he was confronted with his sin, he confessed to God from a broken heart and said “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. (Even David had a hard time letting it go.) Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight….” (Psalms 51:3-4). In Psalms 32  David also tells us what happened when he tried to keep his guilt and shame locked up inside of him.

“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ and you forgave the guilt of my sin” (Psalms 32:3-5).

Then, two verses later, David is able to say to God: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” (Psalms 32:7). While David started out hiding from God, because of his sin, he ended up hiding himself in God. Once you tell God all that’s on your heart, you will find He is a refuge for you — one to run to and not from.