EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF SIN

We talk so much about avoiding sin and overcoming temptations, but we're human. Sometimes we sin. So, what are the emotional effects of sin? Is it really a big deal? Sin has a way of creeping into the way we feel. It creates separations, makes us sad and creates doubt. Sin can be extremely damaging, not just to others, but to ourselves. 

FEW OF THE EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF SIN IN OUR LIVES 

Separates you from God

God wants a relationship with each one of us. He desires our love, and he wants us to turn to him in good times and bad. He is our Father. He is our guide. Yet, when we sin, we hurt God. We turn away from Him and look to other things that are far less important. When we lie, cheat or steal…we hurt God. This causes a separation.

Isaiah 59:1-3

59:1   Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.

59:2   But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,

and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

59:3   For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with

iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness”.

Think about your best friend. If your best friend found out you had been stealing from him or her, what do you think that would do to your relationship? When we sin, we become separate from God rather than one with Him. While he is very forgiving when we ask for it, sometimes we allow that separation to grow and we move further and further away from the biggest support in our lives. 

Adds Sadness to Our Hearts

One of the biggest emotional effects of sin is the sadness that grows in us after we sin. Once we realize we did something wrong, we become sad. We know we've hurt God. We know we've probably hurt someone else. It creates sadness inside of us. For some people, that sadness is a catalyst to make things better. Yet for others, it is an insidious sadness that becomes consuming. It can be a trigger to more self-destructive behaviors and greater sadness.

Matthew27:3-5

27:3   Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he

was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders.

27:4   Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent

blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

27:5   And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and

departed, and went and hanged himself.

Here is a man that had some of the best opportunities to live for and to serve the Lord joyfully. Sin crept in as it usually does, and led to committing others. The sad conclusion is that this man became an enemy of God and tried to destroy Jesus and His ministry on Earth. How grieved Judas was when he came to himself and realized what He had done. 

Lowers Our Self Esteem

Sin has a way of making us feel bad about ourselves. While some people get sad, others beat themselves up over sin. It has a way of taking our self-esteem down several notches. While God may forgive us, low self-esteem may prevent us from forgiving ourselves. When that happens we often get stuck in self-destruction. We never feel good enough, and we stop listening to God. We start listening to the voices telling us we can never be good enough. That's not what God desires. God loves us…self-perceived flaws and all. “

Genesis 3:8-13

3:8     And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the

cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

3:9     And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art

thou?

3:10   And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid,

because I was naked; and I hid myself.

3:11   And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

3:12   And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

3:13   And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 

Allows Bitterness in

Sometimes when we sin, it's not just sadness that settles in. Bitterness has a way of rearing its ugly head. We stop thinking that things matter. We become angry and cold. Our hearts become hard and we turn away from God. Bitterness makes us unpleasant. Sin takes us away from the warmth of God's grace, because we lose sight of the good. Jeremiah 4:18 says “Your ways and your deeds have procured these things unto you! This is your wickedness, it is bitter, because it reaches unto your heart!” 

Drowns Us in Guilt

When we become sad and lose our self-esteem due to sin, it's usually because we are overwhelmed by guilt. It's not to say that we shouldn't take sin seriously, we should. A small amount of guilt is healthy because it allows us to correct ourselves and our behavior. However, when we cannot let go of the guilt, we just end up dwelling on it. Again, we have to learn to forgive ourselves and try better next time. Yet sometimes that guilt keeps us from moving forward.

Mark 14:66-72

14:66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the

maids of the high priest:

14:67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and

said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.

14:68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou

sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.

14:69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by,

This is one of them.

14:70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again

to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

14:71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of

whom ye speak.

14:72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the

word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. 

Let's Doubt Creep In

One of the greatest emotional effects of sin is the creeping in of doubt. It's not to say that people never doubt their faith, but when doubt comes from sin it means we're allowing the sin to have control. When we give control to sin, that means we're no longer giving control to God. We're pushing him out and allowing other things to come in and take over. We often talk about sin being so bad, but we forget that most sin doesn't always feel bad when we're sinning. When sin seems pleasurable and fun, we find ourselves in a crisis of faith. God says it's wrong, but it doesn't feel wrong. So what does that say about God? This is how doubt works to push us away from God. 

Dear brother and sister, for us to overcome sin completely, we have to start living a righteous life and run away from those things Jesus will not be happy with in our lives. Remember what Revelation 3:21 says - “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Shalom