Guilt vs. Shame

Shame: the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, ridiculous, etc., done by oneself or another.

Guilt: a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.

"Guilt says I've done something wrong; shame says there is something wrong with me. Guilt says I've made a mistake; shame says I am a mistake. Guilt says what I did was not good; shame says I am no good."

"Guilt is when we hold up our behaviors against what we want to be." "Shame corrodes the piece of us that believes we can be better."

The following was taken from wmeades.com: "When a person feels ashamed, he thinks of himself as weak and inadequate. The path to healing for guilt leads through forgiveness. The path to healing for shame leads through acceptance. Understandably, these two emotions are closely linked and confused since they often appear in tandem. Adam and Eve felt guilt at having transgressed God’s command. Their guilt feelings led to feelings of shame and the behavior of hiding because they felt unworthy of relationship with God."

Luke 15 tells the story of the prodigal son. The son returns home to his father, and verse 21 states: "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son." The father hugs and kisses the son, and throws a party. He wanted to relieve his son of shame and guilt. In the same way, God wants to do the same for us. Just go to the Heavenly Father, ask for forgiveness, and He is faithful and just to forgive, heal and restore.