Depressed or Guilty? (part 4)

Depression is a reaction to situations in one's life. The majority of time, it is caused by guilt! Guilt is powerful and once it enters your being, you cannot escape it. Guilt has a direct effect on your self esteem and your relationship with others. Guilt is defined as the feeling of shame coupled with regret that results in having performed some disapproved act. It burdens one's inner being.

In an article written by Dr. Joyce Brothers, she tells of a mother with two preschoolers, her husband had created a financial difficulty and she finds herself pregnant again. What did she do? She did not believe in abortion but she chose abortion as a quick solution because of the stress and strain on her marriage and life! Now she feels guilt and sorrow. Each time she looks into the eyes of her children, her heart and mind are flooded with thoughts of what she did. She eventually became very depressed and openly admits, "I am not a good person!" She even has thoughts of suicide. Dr. Brothers told her that two children families tend to have more security and are better cared for. She tells her that her situation is better because she can focus on them which results in better care. Dr. Brothers then says, "You have a right to a fresh start unburdened by guilt!"

By telling the lady she is going to be better off, her children will be better and you have a right to be unburdened by guilt did not solve her problem. Her problem is bigger than someone speaking some words and saying "You have a right..." This lady performed a disapproved act in her own conscience and she knows it. Guilt entered her being and she cannot escape it. If guilt is not properly dealt with (and we will get to that) it will always lead one into depression at some time or the other.

People with guilt often seek out others who have gone through a similar disapproved act or acts to help them deal with it (Rom. 1:32). Because someone else has failed in a similar fashion, they temporarily feel better (it is called support groups) but the next time something happens in their life, here comes the flood of those guilty feelings. The reason? We are spiritual beings (I Thes. 5:23) and guilt takes place on the spiritual side of us, not the body/physical side of us. That's why one cannot escape it. People in guilt try to stay busy or avoid any situations that might remind them of their past failure.

In Gen. 3, one can see this whole thing clearly. Let me take you through a few verses to help us. (v.1) We see the devil's number goal is to confuse one and get them to think about certain things. By asking the question, he has created two directions of thought rather than one clear direction. (v.2-3) The woman recounts God's promise. She knows there is a standard and the moment that standard is broken, death will result. (Death is a spiritual separation and happens with in a persons being.) (v.4) The devil assures her there is nothing to fret! The standard is too high and he is getting her to compromise that standard she knows within. (v.5) Let's just speak for God! He is really cheating you, holding you back. Many in our world today believe this very lie. They take advice from people who think they speak for God, while lowering His standard. (v.6-7) The immediate change takes place after they ate. They gained knowledge of evil. Before this, that knowledge was absent. Evil brought a conscious awareness within their being that they previously did not have. They covered their nakedness! Why? Who told them they were naked? SHAME! Guilt is the feeling of shame coupled with regret that results in having performed some disapproved act! Something within their being has brought a shameful awareness and they know without being told! One cannot escape their guilt once it enters their life. (v.8) Their guilt leads them to hiding from the presence of God. What has changed between them and God? God has not changed but they have. We are spiritual beings and guilt takes place on the spiritual side! They have fear and are tormented by God's presence. (There are certain people I know when they get trapped in the guilt of sin. They do not want to be around me or or anything God related!) One disapproved act brought pain and suffering to their inner being. God said, "The day you eat is the day you die!" We see two spiritual people in death recorded in Scripture and what brought about that death. We are all spiritual beings!

As long as guilt stays with us, it will effect every aspect of our lives because it is on our spiritual side. Guilt is major cause, not only of depression but one's self esteem. There is help and an answer for our guilt, but we must see the cause before we can accept the answer. More coming tomorrow!