Paralyzed by Guilt

The sons of Jacob tried to act normally. Yet they could never forget how they had sold their brother, Joseph, into slavery. They surely were troubled by recollections of how they had covered up their sins and lied to their father. They never had been able to escape feelings of guilt, even years later.

These men also became paralyzed with inaction. After their encounter with Joseph in Egypt, all the brothers except Simeon had been released and returned to their homeland. But Simeon was confined to jail and would remain unless they returned to Egypt with Benjamin. They urgently needed to return to get grain, so this was a torturous experience.

What an important lesson! The brothers learned that, no matter how we act, we cannot escape the impact of sin. Sin separates us from God and causes a constant stream of complications. There’s no real peace until we receive the Lord’s forgiveness.

David experienced similar issues after committing adultery with Bathsheba and then arranging for her husband Uriah to die in combat. Yet David discovered, “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered!” He found that when he “kept silent about my sin,” his body “wasted away through my groaning all day long” (Psalm 32:3). The answer was to acknowledge his sin—to stop hiding and seek God’s forgiveness.

Yes, everything changes when we confess our sins. Our lives are transformed when we stop lying and begin to face the facts. But this means dealing with sin as the root problem in our lives.

Today, ask God to reveal any sins in your life. Remember that sin causes burdens and guilt. It separates you from God and often results in mental and emotional paralysis. Be bold in confronting your sins and receiving God’s forgiveness, healing, and restoration.