Guilt feelings will manifest themselves in various and complex ways:
• Deep depression from constant self-blame.
• Chronic fatigue and headaches, or other illnesses.
• Extreme self-denial and self-punishment.
• A feeling of being constantly watched and criticized by others.
• Constant criticism of others for their own sins and shortcomings.
• Because of defeatist attitudes, actually sinking deeper into sin in order to feel more guilty.
Billy Graham has said of this complex problem: "The human conscience is often beyond the grasp of a psychiatrist. With all his or her techniques, he or she cannot sound its depravity and depth. Humans are helpless to detach themselves from the gnawing guilt of a heart bowed down with the weight of sin. But where humans have failed, God has succeeded."
Helping Strategy For the Non-Christian:
1. Offer hope to the inquirer by assuring that God can take care of any problem. God is able not only to forgive, but also to blot out any sin and guilt.
2. Do not excuse or minimize in any way the sins he or she reports. There is disobedience and sinful behavior in every human, which needs to be dealt with in God's way; that is, it needs to be confessed and forgiven. We can never expect to find solutions to guilt if we try to cover up our sin: "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
3. Ask the inquirer if he or she has ever received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Share "Steps to Peace with God," page 11. Emphasize that freedom from guilt is included in Jesus' death on the cross, but we must trust Him to cleanse us.
4. Encourage reading and studying the Bible, beginning with the gospels. Offer to send Living in Christ, which will facilitate getting started.
5. Recommend cultivating the habit of daily prayer. While praying, he or she can confess all present sins, asking for forgiveness and cleansing. He or she should practice thanking God for taking away the sin and guilt, remembering that God takes away all our sins.