stuck like glue…

I read a letter from a dear sister and at the end of her letter she enclosed a quote:   “Self-pity is like super glue from hell that keeps us stuck to the past.”   (Love & Thank you, Jenny)

As I’ve worked in our home today I’ve been mulling this quote over in my mind.  I’ve been thinking of other angles on this one  and I’ve come to see another angle on what keeps us stuck in the past — it seems to me that guilt is the “super glue from hell” that keeps us stuck to the past.  Even confessed sin, repentance, a turning from whatever it was, somehow guilt links us and keeps us stuck to, or in,  the past like a super glue.

Guilt’s a heavy thing.  Guilt keeps us stuck and then other stuff keeps us  stuck like glue to guilt! Even when a debt’s been paid, an infraction’s been forgiven, a problem’s been solved – we sort of keep the deal messed up by rehashing and feeling guilty about it all.  Other things keep us stuck on guilt, too. Sometimes it’s other people.  Sometimes it’s regret or sorrow.  Sometimes its just our own stupidity revisiting done deals.  Stuff haunts us when we least expect it and then the ugly event washes over us all over again and we’re buried in regret, super-glued by guilt.

Guilt — and by guilt I don’t mean  what is, in reality, shame and deep conviction of living with unconfessed sin.  I’m not talking about that true guilt… I’m talking about guilt as an emotional response or a sense of being plagued by a problem that was confessed as sin, that was dealt with, that was forgiven.   This guilt plagues many of us — and it’s got a few companions, too.  Guilt doesn’t travel alone.  No… it travels well with shame and regret.  It travels well with grief and doubt.  It travels well with anger. It travels well with pity: self-pity (thus the quote my friend had in her letter).

Sometimes the trapping of guilt comes from other people — sometimes well intentioned, sometimes not.  Whatever the case, I must/we must determine to be not allow someone’s criticism or condemnation to trap us for what we were or what we’ve done, we need to reject it and not allow ourselves to wallow in the condemnation.  If we do, inevitably, guilt or shame or regret will overtake us.  It’s got to be a red flag to us!

Get unstuck from that super glue from the pit — flee that trap — it’s not from the Lord, it’s from the devil.  And here’s why:

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8.2

Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Galatians 5.1

It is for freedom the Lord has set us free!

There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8.1

I’m praying about different things that have me “super-glued” to a past problem — seeking the Lord for His mercy and guidance.  Maybe you’re dealing with stuff, too.  I’m chiming in to say: No matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been or what’s happened:  you’re not too far from the Lord. He’s seen it all — been with you through it all. In Him there is rest.

Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
13  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.  14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4.11-16