There is a significant difference between guilt and conviction. One is the first step to a path of holiness. The other is the first step to a path of despair. They’re both very different, but unfortunately, they both often feel very much the same.

Guilt and conviction can both feel like a weight on your shoulders, a punch in your gut or a whisper in your ear that never seems to go away.  The right way to deal with guilt is to fight it with the truth. Resist the feelings. Fight the feelings. Conquer the feelings until they at last surrender to the truth.

But the right way to deal with conviction is to embrace it. Listen to the feelings. Learn from the feelings. Change and grow and repent until at last you have surrendered to the truth.

Such similar beginnings yet such different responses. And the consequences for misinterpreting one for the other are a neutral life, a life of regret or a life of second-best. A lot is a stake here.

So how are we to avoid misinterpreting guilt and conviction? You must learn their differences. They may be slight, but they are very significant. And when you take the time to prayerfully consider the feelings that you’re having, you will be better able to accurately categorize them into Guilt or Conviction. Consider this:

What would you add to the list?

[Are you struggling with guilt or conviction when it comes to your quiet times with the Lord? Read Guilt-Free Quiet Times and end the struggle once and for all!]