Somewhere in our DNA is a code that gives us the impulse to hide or run away when we feel guilty. Now this is not scientifically proven, just a hypothesis based on the first recorded mistake. We know the story: Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and they responded by hiding from God ( Gen 3:8) As their defendants we seem to follow suit. When we sin, we " hide" from God. And it's really funny when you think about it because, can we really hide from God? Where exactly would we go to accomplish this? David said it best, Where could I go from your Spirit? Where could I run and hide from your face? If I go up to heaven, you’re there! If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too! If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there! If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting! Wherever I go, your hand will guide me; your strength will empower me. It’s impossible to disappear from you or to ask the darkness to hide me, for your presence is everywhere, bringing light into my night. (Ps 139:7-11)
Where can we go that He cannot find us? So why run, why stay out of His presence? Why avoid prayer? Why avoid fellowship with His people?
Instead of trying to hide from Him, try hiding in Him. Have you ever seen a scared or hurting child in the arms of their parent? Or a wife in the arms or her husband? In those moments of embrace it's as if they are fusing together and one is being completely enveloped by the other. This is how God wants to embrace us. When we sin or feel unworthy, is when we need Him the most and He is there ready to take our guilt and cover us with forgiveness and love.
Psalm 32:3-5 says,
When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord .” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
All your guilt can be gone. The fear of being rejected by God because of what you've done can be removed from you. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were ashamed and tried to fix it on their own. They covered themselves with leaves but it was insufficient. But our God, who is full of love and mercy, offered them a better way. He made clothing from animal skins and covered them. (Gen 3:21)
So you see, you don't have to manage the guilt on your own, and you don't have to find substitutes to help you feel better. You simply have to go to Him, confess your sin, repent and let Him cover you.
The guilt of sin is something only God can remove. Just like He covered Adam and Eve, the blood of His only Son Jesus Christ covers us, making us righteous and accepted in His presence. So if you have never accepted the sacrifice of Christ, there is room at the Throne of Grace to admit your need for a Savior and be forgiven.
Jesus covers us completely; in Him our past sin is washed away, our present life as His child is sustained and our eternity is secured.
As believers in Christ we are free from guilt and shame. Through Him, we have the right to go before the Father and receive help in our time of need. And sometimes what we need is to run to Him and say "Father I'm sorry, I know better, help me to do what is right, I love You, and I need You."
Hide in Him, not from Him.
You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Psalm 32:7