Time To Jilt the Guilt
LAURIE DAVIES
Lee en español
“For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.” Revelation 12:10b (NIV)
“He just made a basket!” my friend shared excitedly as I took a seat on the bleachers for my son’s middle school basketball game. “You should have seen it!”
If I had left my office earlier, I would have seen it. Behind on a deadline, I mostly finished my work before rushing to my son’s school, missing what turned out to be his only basket of the game.
I should have seen it.
The words seemed to confirm what I already felt: I wasn’t getting motherhood — or any of life — right. I felt an uneasy sense of guilt all the time.
When I wasn’t available to friends because I was overextended … guilt.
When I let a family member push every button on my emotional switchboard … guilt.
When I saw a sign in the hobby store that said, “My housekeeping style is best described as: ‘There appears to have been a struggle’” … laughter, yes. But also guilt.
Maybe you’ve felt the same way as a mom, grandma, wife, friend, or ministry volunteer. But here’s a game changer for those of us burdened by nagging guilt. We can sort out real guilt from false guilt through a simple question: Did I sin?
If the answer is no, we are not guilty. What good news! But we do have an enemy who hates this discovery. Satan is a liar, and he wants us to languish like he does — condemned.
That’s why, as Revelation 12:10 says, he “accuses [us] before our God day and night.” Satan may accuse us of insincerity; incapability; hypocrisy; or as with Job, loving God only when times are good (Job 1:9-11). Our enemy is committed to spewing false charges against us.
Yet Revelation 12:10 also says, “The accuser of our brothers and sisters … has been hurled down.”
Satan will be defeated. In the here and now, we do not have to side with him by living defeated by his claims.
Rather, we can side with Christ and live free from condemnation (Romans 8:1). In Christ, freedom, boldness, and victory are ours! We do not need to hold on to false guilt and defeat.
Let’s start by identifying when guilt began filling the many gaps where God’s grace was meant to go in our lives. Some of us grew up taking blame for things that weren’t our fault. Others incorrectly learned that God expects our effort in exchange for His acceptance. Others are imprisoned by perfectionism.
All are traps sprung by Satan.
Friend, if the enemy can bury us in self-condemnation and false guilt, then he is stealing years from the beauty of our calling. But when we grasp grace and embrace the freedom God offers, we silence the enemy’s hiss about how we've missed the mark.
Father, because of Jesus, I am righteous in Your eyes. Please help me discern when Satan flings false guilt or accusations at me, and give me the courage to rebuke them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
To let go of false guilt, regret, anger, worthlessness, and other hard emotions we hold on to, pick up a copy of Laurie’s new book, Emotional Hoarding: Letting Go of the Stuff That Keeps You Stuck. It’s full of biblical Truth, laughter, and the kind of freedom your heart longs for.
ENGAGE
Start and end your day with fresh Truth from God’s Word! Receive “Five Days of Living Lighter,” a morning and evening downloadable devotional with daily prompts and prayers to help you become unburdened from things like exhaustion, jealousy, and insecurity.
For more regular doses of encouragement, connect with Laurie on Instagram or Facebook.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus …” (NIV).
1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (NIV).
In what ways has false guilt condemned you in the past or present? How might Jesus be inviting you to experience freedom from these false charges?
We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2026 by Laurie Davies. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Monday, 01 June 2026.
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