Depressed or Guilty? (part 6)

For years I have heard people say (and they get it from the world's thinking) that one cannot find forgiveness until they forgive themselves! You have probably heard similar statements. We have no power to forgive ourselves! Forgiveness is not ours to offer. The Lord is the ONLY one who can forgive and we must embrace His forgiveness to find relief. If we have the power to forgive ourselves, then we do not need Jesus!!!

Guilt stays with a person on their spirit side and until one decides to be honest and come into the presence of the holy God and confess their guilt to Him, there will be no relief but Only a continuation of the pain, fear and deep hurt of our failure. What makes some people stay in a constant state of depression and anxiety is they refuse to come into the presence of God and they know it! Guilt takes place on our spirit side. If we will only reach out and realize our heavenly Father's wants and desire for us, we would find relief.

In II Sam. 11, David commits adultery with Bathsheba. He had the best laid plot (v.1-17). Here is the king of Israel, powerful and could command almost anything. Yet the cords of his own sins captured him within his conscience. There was adultery, scheming, lying, deception, murder and the sins continue to pile up. In chapter 12, the Lord responds after David was given time to come and repent, which he did not. David was hiding and Nathan revealed his sinfulness (v.1-15). Look closely at Psalms 51, David's plea to God. (v.1) David has realized his transgressions. He is aware of his guilt and only by coming into the presence of God would his problem be solved. He wants his sins "blotted" out because they are on record before God. Here is David, a king that had killed 10,000's of the enemy, defeated Goliath and his accomplishments meant nothing to God! He is making an open and honest appeal to God's great compassion and love. (v.2) He sees himself defiled. This is what sin does to a person. The longer one stays in their sins, not being honest, the conscience will start searing over. (v.3) Notice he knows what is in himself. He tried to cover up his sins but now, his sins will not let him forget and he cannot escape them. We are spiritual beings! (v.4) He is being honest in the presence of God. He knows whatever God says about our sinfulness, He is right and the verdict God pronounces will be just. (v.7) If God cleanses him, he will be clean, perfect and back in a genuine relationship with Him. David's cleansing can only come from God. He cannot forgive himself! (v.8) Notice what David has lost: JOY! Guilt/depression robs one of joy. (v.9) Turn Your face from my sins! (v.10) David knows he needs a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. Where has all this guilt/anxiety and depression taken place? On his spirit side! (v.11) Even back here, what was David aware he was close to losing? (v.12) He knows he needs help on his spirit side and coming into the presence of God will solve it.

Look at Psalms 32. Actually, Psalms 51 comes first and then Psalms 32 is next. In Psalms 32, David has been forgiven by God and he knows it! (v.1) Forgiveness brings great blessings to a person. God covers our sins through His Son. (v.2) How blessed is a person to know that God will not hold them accountable if you will be honest? (v.3) David was in depression!!! Notice how things were affecting his body as long as he tried to cover up his sin. Guilt/depression affect every aspect of your body and you cannot cover it up. (v.4) Notice what happened to his energy level: "vitality was drained". God was sending David a message. (v.5) Notice the difference between here and before he confessed his sins in the presence of God. Instead of fear, anxiety and depression, David flees to God and is honest which leads him into freedom and peace within. (v.6) Here is great, sound advice: One better get to God while they have an opportunity because the next flood that hits, you might not reach God at all!

If one does not face their guilt in the presence of God, you will have to create some other means to solve your problem, but you are still defiled and guilty within. As long as people run from their sins, they will run from God. They will not be honest. This is why psychologists cannot help. They work on the physical side and never take one to the spiritual side to really solve their problems. We need to know that we cannot solve guilt, anxiety and depression until we look outside ourselves, reaching to the only source of help. (His name is "Wonderful Counselor" - Isa. 9:6.) The longer one walks in their guilt, the heavier their burden becomes and things get more confusing. There is an answer and that answer lies with God. Let me do one more part which I will briefly deal with "false guilt." Read God's word!