·

How to Let Go of the Guilt From Clutter

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

Welcome to Day 25 of our series, A Time to Clean. I hope you’ve been able to declutter a whole lot of stuff! Today I’m talking about how to let go of the guilt from clutter. It’s easy to feel bad inside when we face the truth about how much stuff we’ve allowed to crowd our lives. The good news is, you can be set free from those feelings of guilt!

How to Let Go of the Guilt From Clutter @ AVirtuousWoman.org

You want a clean home. You long for a neat and tidy space. But clutter covers every flat surface and is piled in every corner and closet of your home. You’re not sure how this happened. But it did.

And now you can’t seem to let things go because guilt plagues your weary soul. And you wonder, “How did you let your home get so out of control?”

A Time to Clean: Day 25

We’ve been getting rid of a lot of stuff in our hearts and in our homes. And while with that comes a lot of relief and freedom, it can also leave behind a feeling of guilt for making such a mess of things to begin with. But I want you to know that you can claim freedom in Christ today and let it all go – including the guilt you feel!

How to Let Go of the Guilt from Clutter

One of the hardest parts of dealing with clutter is the guilt we feel from it. Clutter fills every aspect of our lives, not in just one. It can be in the form of physical stuff, but clutter can also resides in our hearts and minds.

All that clutter didn’t get there in one day and it won’t go away in one day. That’s why I suggest you purge one bag of clutter every day until your home is clutter free. You can’t do it all at once. But you can do a little bit at a time and allow yourself time to heal and discover new feelings of joy where there was once shame and guilt.

Remember that our God isn’t too big for us to talk to Him about our clutter. Pray about the clutter and where you need to start. We all have reasons for the clutter in our homes, ask God to reveal this reason to you.

Let Go of the Shame

I know that with the build-up of clutter can come lots of shame. Jesus died to carry all that shame for us. You no longer need to carry around this shame. Isn’t it time you release this to Him?

Psalm 69:19 says, “You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; All my adversaries are before You.”

Even though you think you’re alone, God already knows and He can carry it for you. No amount of clutter you have in this world could add too much shame or guilt because Someone is there to help you carry it. In fact, you can hand the entire burden of guilt and shame to Jesus and He will take it from you. Maybe you have come to a point where you’re tired of riding this journey alone.

Decluttering Works Wonders for the Soul

It’s amazing how “things” can weigh us down. Holding onto clutter helps us keep things repressed that we aren’t ready to deal with. Are you ready to release things that you’ve have held onto for years? I know I am!

If you feel guilty for having so much excess stuff, piles of clutter, too many duplicates of things, or things you feel are now waster money, I am giving you permission to let them go, freely, without guilt and without shame. Tomorrow is a new day and all you can do or even need to do is ask God to forgive you for your past regrets and impulses. Ask Him to help you live from this moment forward with purpose. Each day is a new day to make better choices. And when you fail, remember that His grace is bigger than your weakness! And Jesus is all about walking the broken road with us.

How to Let Go of the Guilt From Clutter @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Fix your eyes on Jesus. Ask him to help you make wise choices when you are shopping online or in a store. Ask Him to help you be a good steward of your finances and to show you how you can better use your money to fulfill the gospel commission.

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Forgive yourself, cast your cares on our Lord, and let it go. Guilt and shame weigh us down tremendously and it’s Satan who wants to hold us captive. I’m so glad that Jesus allows to move forward, that He casts our sin into the depths of the sea never to remind us of our failures again.

How are you letting go of guilt and shame today?

Today’s Goal

  • Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
  • Choose an area in your home you want to tackle.
  • Fill at least one bag or box full of stuff to give away.
  • Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean {optional}
  • Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of and anything else God has laid on your heart.
  • Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal. I’ll be waking up around 6:00 am.

Similar Posts

3 Comments

  1. Melissa - No one (even my pastor!) has ever told me Jesus could carry my shame and guilt about my life long prison of clutter. My mom survived the Great Depression and she taught me to save and repurpose everything. No trash/spoiling food/animals but everything else in multiples, her stuff, my stuff, other peoples stuff. I am much older than you and I always thought Jesus would be sad/disappointed and God would be angry if I got rid of all this excess. Like He would take away the rest (the necessary) since I didn't appreciate the abundance. That is how I have lived trapped all these years and can't have anybody over. I lost my mom in January of 2019 and without her organization, ugh, every room is messy and stacked with stuff. More stuff in boxes. My mom was more OCD and kept the excess somehow organized and neat really and I have a more messy/artsy personality - that some people have always shamed me for. After reading your blog, you have opened my eyes to - I am the personality trait (starry-eyed dreamer) that God gave me! Thank you Melissa for writing and caring about other women. I feel for the first time I have hope of becoming a good servant for the Lord. I have always been told that I will go to heaven because I am saved by the blood of Jesus and no one can take that away, but others will get truckloads of jewels and someone will throw a handful of straw at me. So I thought shame was me and I was shame and that would never change. Your writing lifted my blindfold. I'm going to start decluttering now (guilt/ fear of punishment free) and look forward to the new year.
  2. so glad i found your blog. cluttered by resale shop overstock! at least thats how is started. then came 95yo Dad to love on 3ryrs. gone now 2yrs; 2 hosp beds, chairs, lift & supplies sit for saLe. where to start? inside or out? By Grace just completed 30x30 carport to organize & reopen resale workshop. tossing junk, trimming tree, raking leaves from tarp removal x3. cleaning sorting, 3 piles, adding shelves, & shoring up floors & open shop for business!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *