Category Archives: Guilt

Conrad Murray Found Guilty!

Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted last week of involuntary manslaughter in the death of singer Michael Jackson. Even though he pled innocent, a jury of his peers found him guilty of not correctly carrying out his duties as a doctor as society requires. Now, he must live with the guilt and shame arising from his professional and personal failures.

Guilt and shame often go together.  When guilt remains unresolved, shame follows.  Feeling guilty just isn’t enough.  Overcoming guilt requires a person to for something that went wrong. Many people never learn how to let go of their guilt because they have never been forced to see themselves honestly.

That might be true for someone like Conrad Murray.  Instead of learning to let go by resolving his guilt, he may be allowed to carry on his life without many consequences.  Even Murray’s conviction might not mean that he will serve much jail time. California authorities released Lindsay Lohan after just 4 ½ hours for her parole violation recently because of jail overcrowding.) 

Ironically, Murray might even be allowed to resume his medical practice one day. That doesn’t mean he will necessarily enjoy his freedom. (Like all of us, Murray must be freed from guilt, not by the courts, but from within. 

Unfortunately, many people never seek forgiveness. Like so many others before him, Conrad Murray will not likely be able to move on with his life until he finds forgiveness. Often, people fail to overcome personal failure because they never learn to say, “I am sorry.”

Perhaps you have battled guilt.  You can find freedom again and know the joy of restored relationships. Real forgiveness begins by telling God: “I am sorry. I was wrong. Forgive me, God.”  When He answers, He will give you the tools you need to resolve guilt.  He will change your life and help you find freedom from Guilt. So, instead of living with guilt, you can move forward and overcome shame that once bound you.

You can begin with a simple prayer: 

“Dear Jesus, I am guilty today. I need Your forgiveness today for the things I have done wrong. Please help me to find peace. Help me to be restored and live for You. I declare You to be the Lord of my Life, in Jesus’ name, amen!”

If you prayed that prayer, please click the button below and someone will help you take the next steps toward living a guilt-free life!

- Bill Hennessy

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Found Guilty, Finding Forgiveness

“We the jury, find you guilty!” In a courtroom, there is no more ominous phrase.  What follows is the judge’s pronouncement of an appropriate sentence for the crime the defendant committed. Whether it is a day or a life-sentence, life changes in that moment for the person convicted.

People can feel guilt outside the courtroom, too. People often have problems in relationships. When boundaries are not set, hurt takes place.  The person who feels wounded often lashes out with harsh words that cut deeply. When you feel guilty, you may let down your defenses because you know you did wrong. The things said ring true and bring shame.  Guilt and shame are cruel emotions. Shame attacks your worth, not your actions.  It is an unfair approach to righting a supposed wrong.

If you have been shamed, living with guilt can become a life-sentence of frustration and discouragement even when the supposed offence was really a minor thing. The good news is that you can be freed from guilt.  It begins when you find forgiveness for the wrong things you have done.

Real forgiveness can resolve guilt.  It begins when you take responsibility for your actions. It begins when you say, “I am sorry, I was wrong.” Asking for forgiveness shows that you understand that your actions caused pain.  It is the first step toward overcoming guilt. Learning to let go begins when you find God’s forgiveness. Start by saying, “Forgive me God.” He can help you to begin again.   He will show you the way to find forgiveness and mend your relationships that are broken.

Instead of living with guilt, learn to overcome shame. Experience God’s forgiveness confessing the wrongs you have done and by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior today.

- Bill Hennessy
 

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Living With Guilt

Are you living with guilt?  If so, you probably battle with how to let go of your past failings. Feeling guilty is a common human emotion.  Unfortunately, it is not easy to overcome guilt.  That’s because guilt and shame often go together, and together they make a powerful enemy.

To truly be freed from guilt, you must first overcome shame.  Guilt is based on the understanding that you did something bad.  Shame declares that you yourself are “bad.”  As long as you believe that you, (more than your actions) are bad, you cannot resolve guilt.

Guilt makes you deserving of appropriate punishment. Shame makes punishment the best you can hope for in this life.   In order to find forgiveness for the wrong things you have done, you must also find freedom from shame.

Real forgiveness is a gift from God. It comes when you declare to God, “I was wrong. I am sorry.”  God’s forgiveness is essential to overcoming guilt.  Saying, “forgive me God” gives you access to God’s limitless grace.  Grace not only forgives us for the wrongs we’ve done, it offers a solution for our shame.

Learning to let go of shame is key to overcoming guilt.  Asking for forgiveness from Jesus is as simple as praying an honest prayer.  You can begin by saying: “Dear Jesus, I am sorry for the wrong things I have done.  I was wrong, please forgive me. I choose to follow you now as my Lord and Savior. Please heal me from the pain of my guilt and shame. Please give me a new start. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!”

-Bill Hennessy

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Freedom from Guilt

If you have been living with guilt, you know how hard it is to believe in yourself.  Feeling guilty destroys your self-respect. It causes you to measure your worth by your mistakes instead of your strengths.  It is difficult to learn how to let go of the wrongs you’ve done and focus the good you can do.

Guilt and shame can grow like a cancer if we do not find forgiveness.  Many people do not feel able to ask the people they offended for forgiveness. Does that mean that they can never be freed from guilt?  No!  God offers forgiveness. 

God knows the pain you caused and He knows the price you’ve paid.  You can go to Him and find relief from your pain.  Once you find God’s forgiveness, you may find it easier to face the one you wronged. Guilt does not need to control you any longer.

Overcoming guilt comes when you admit that you can be wrong.  You can learn how to let go of the pain others caused you as well.  Go to God.  Admit that you need his help. Simply say, “Forgive me God, I was wrong. I am sorry for the things I have done to hurt You. I am sorry for the pain I caused others. Please help me find forgiveness and move on.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!”

Learning to let go of guilt is the first step toward a happier life.  Learning to resolve guilt by asking for forgiveness is the best way to rid yourself of the guilt and shame you have been battling.  

- Bill Hennessy
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Finding Forgiveness From Guilt

 

Feeling Guilty?  Most of us do.  Living with guilt can be a difficult thing. Finding forgiveness from those we have wounded is seldom easy. Most people tend to give up and attempt to cope with the guilt and shame they feel each time they remember the pain of lost relationships.

Ignoring the problem is not the best approach to overcoming guilt.  Instead, confronting the truth about ourselves is the first step toward learning to let go of guilt. The truth is that we are all capable of hurting others.  

Some people have even become professionally offensive.  For a price, they offer to hurl insults at people on your behalf.  Thankfully, most of us do not take hurting others to that extreme, but each of us will fail someone someday.  In that moment, we need to examine ourselves and ask why we said or did something that we knew would be hurtful.

Once we have honestly answered that question, we have the opportunity to make changes in our lives that will prevent us from hurting others.  A great first step toward true change is to ask God for forgiveness and for the power to be different. It is as simple as saying: “Forgive me God. I know I was wrong when I hurt ____ that way.” God is faithful to forgive those who come to Him in Jesus’ name.

Learning how to let go of the guilt we feel begins with finding forgiveness from God. If I am already forgiven, I do not worry so much about whether the person I offended forgives me. That way, I am ready to listen more carefully to the concerns they express. If I have already found peace, their response cannot rob me of experiencing the forgiveness that God offers. 

-Bill Hennessy

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Overcoming Guilt: It is Possible!

Feeling Guilty?  Many of us do.  Living with guilt is like having to climb a mountain with cement boots on your feet. It weighs you down. It can even stop you in your tracks!

Overcoming guilt begins with understanding that our actions have impact.  If I have done something wrong or hurt someone, it has an impact not only on the person I hurt, but me.  Feeling guilty isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Guilt can cause us to reassess our lives, our priorities or our actions.  If we ignore the truth about our guilt, it can become a weight on our shoulders.

If you desire to overcome guilt, you must find forgiveness.  Often times, the guilt we feel goes back so far that we cannot ask forgiveness of the person we hurt, so what can we do? God understands what happens to people. We hurt each other. So, He offers forgiveness to us.  Where can you begin?  It’s pretty simple.  Pray a prayer like this: “Forgive me God. I hurt ______. I know I was wrong. I have been living with guilt and shame and now I ask You to take that away and teach me how to let go of the wrong I have done.  Please give me a new beginning. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

Learning to let go may take time.  Guilt is often buried deep inside our hearts and minds.  When you find yourself feeling guilty, remember God’s forgiveness.  His love and forgiveness can remove your guilt once and for all.

-    Bill Hennessy
 

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Learning to Let Go of Guilt

 

If you’ve been living with guilt, you already know that it’s a burden that only brings pain. Overcoming guilt isn’t easy. You can’t do it alone. You’re going to need some help. 
 
Guilt is often created by the decisions we make and the company we keep. It can be created by what we did and sometimes by what we didn’t do. Either way, guilt shines a light on our weakness. It steals our joy. It robs us of peace.
 
I’ve got great news! Jesus knows you are feeling guilty and He is willing to take your guilt and shame away forever! But, you need to ask. He understands how guilty you are, but offers you forgiveness. Best of all, He promises to be your ally all through this life.
 
God’s forgiveness is the only sure way to overcome your guilt. Jesus took the guilt of our sins on himself by going to the cross. His death settled the debt your sins created. His resurrection promises you a better life ahead!

It won’t be easy. You must learn how to let go. You begin with “forgive me God” but you must remind yourself often that the price of your guilt has been paid for by Jesus. You are free, but you are only now learning to let go of your guilt. God wants to bring Godly people into your life who can remind you that even though you were once burdened with guilt, you are forgiven and can live in victory!

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Moving Past Guilt

      Most everyone battles at some point with guilt.  That’s because we all make mistakes and sometimes our mistakes cause pain to those around us.  Feeling guilty doesn’t solve my problems, it complicates them. It is not just a matter of learning to let go, it is a matter of finding a way to rid ourselves of the guilt and shame our actions cause.

      I’ve found that it’s often, the fear of confrontation that prevents me from doing the right thing. If you are battling with guilt, one of the first steps to take is to ask forgiveness from those you have wounded.  That might seem hard, but there is a real peace that comes from saying three simple words: “Please forgive me.”

       I have found it helpful to first ask God to forgive me for the wrongs I have done. He is aware of my actions and the pain they cause. He knows I need forgiveness. My offenses were not just against people, but against God who created me.  Finding Christ’s forgiveness is the first step toward moving on, learning to let go, and overcoming guilt. Finding forgiveness from God gives me peace to make things right with people.

      Once we find peace with God, we can do the right thing with people. Instead of living with guilt, we can ask forgiveness from the people we wounded. Relationships that were once broken begin to heal. In my experience, finding forgiveness has been the only way to overcome guilt.

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