Poem from someone i know

The mistakes of the past lay buried deep
In a wounded heart.
No one must hear.
No one must know.
The tears must be held back.
And so the pain grows.
The guilt grows.
The shame grows.
There is no end in sight.
There cannot be.
There can be no forgiveness for the wrongs perpetrated.
The one who carries the guilt and shame
Must suffer as its silent victim.
There must be punishment.
The guilt and shame hangs heavily upon the broken soul
Bearing down with a crushing wieght that makes breathing difficult.
There are those who see, who try to help, but no.
No help must be accepted.
This is punishment, to suffer in silence the agony of one's wrongdoing.
And so the wounded heart finds no peace, no rest, 
But pushes it away, 
Determined to bear out the harsh sentence imposed upon itself.
There can be no mercy for this miserable creature, 
Drowning in shame.
And so it goes on and on, growing heavier and weaker
As time passes, 
Until at last the wounded soul withers and dies.
This is the punishment of one's wrongs.
No peace.
No comfort.
No rest.
Only infinite guilt and shame and the
Desperate wish to change the past.






-This was written by someone i know, and in my understanding and opinion, speaks of great inner turmoil. Any ideas on that or advice on how to approach this person about it would be welcome and appreciated.

"Guilt and Shame" how very Catholic!
Can't tell you how many times a Priest during services would stop and point behind himself to the idol of a huge crucified Christ on a wall behind the Altar and say "see...or...look...see how He suffered for us" and then proceed to pour out a very unhealthy dose of manipulative "guilt and shame".
Tools of the trade I guess..?
I too was indoctrinated into this cultish "guilt and shame" culture of Catholicism (though it could be a different cause in your friend's case, the results are the same).
First thing that happened when I was "saved" was this "programming" had to be broken, it is a form of brain-washing and control quite subtly hidden behind a veil of religiosity, nothing whatsoever to do with Christ! In fact it promotes separation from Him. 
Got tired of seeing that image and how it has been used to control, my Jesus and yours are no longer on a cross AMEN?! He is risen!
Always remember this Laura...
Luke 9:26 "For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."
Ask your friend to memorize this scripture and repeat it to herself aloud or in private whenever these assaults occur and trust that it is exactly that...an "assault".
And just be a friend Laura...let your light shine...let it light the room.
Tell your friend that If Christ lives in us there can be no "shame nor guilt" these are lies, that is all in the past and covered by His shed blood. We are new creations in Christ, forgiven by Grace alone.

B.T.W., let her know that she is loved.

Thank you for that advice. Yes, it could very well be Catholic indoctrination.........the family was very heavily into that from the time she was very little until just a few years ago. My family was as well, which is actually how we became friends nearly twelve years ago. My family stopped being involved with it about eight years ago or slightly less, but I myself often will feel 'assaulted' with feelings of guilt over past mistakes, so I understand what she's feeling. But i also know, like you said, that Christ is in me and "there is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus". I firmly believe i was forgiven and have no need to feel guilty. Perhaps sharing this with her would be a good idea. As for being loved, she knows that I love her dearly(she's like the little sister I never had)and i think deep down she knows God does too. Thank you for the encouraging advice and please pray for us both while I do what I can to help her.

The first verse I had ever committed to memory was at the urging of a Baptist Minister I had turned to for counseling during a very difficult trial in my life, it was in 1997...1Corinthians 10:13, It really helped to know this by heart. It took the "search" out of the "searching" and seeded a useful tool within my heart that would eventually grow into finding. And all the "running from" was suddenly slowly being turned completely around to a purposeful "running to", at the time I was not even fully aware of it.

Amen! That is one of my favourite verses! Its comforting to know that there is an escape for every temptation.....that its not an "I can't get out of this" situation. Its also comforting to know that if you do make the wrong choice, He's there to pick you up and dust you off and set you back on the right path. Always.

Late Summer 1997, I was lost despondent and suicidal felt as though I had no reason to live...had made a very serious attempt at taking my own life (there was an intervention/visitation) I was pronounced D.O.A. but made a miraculous sudden recovery, this was life giving/saving/changing mercy and grace i did not deserve in the least and has endured and accompanied my walk since then. I had succumbed to so deep a depression from childhood sexual abuses didn't know that i was suffering from P.T.S.D., anxiety disorder, panic attacks etc. I had fallen into a state of psychosis totally out of touch with reality...problem is that "a sick mind doesn't know that is sick", my behaviors were out of control.
There is much more...too much to be believed, This is but the tip of an iceberg, I only reveal one on one on a case by case basis to whom He sends and He has shown me how to discern and make that distinction but sometimes I trip over my "own" understanding, correction is usually sudden and swift.
Hope this wasn't too confusing, it is difficult to express but my dear one I told you long ago upon first contact that you are very special and I was being sincere:) At least that is what was discerned...from the onset.

Thank you for finding me trustworthy enough to share that. And I assure you that there is nothing that you have been through that I would find unbelievable........I may be young, but in my short lifetime you would be amazed at what I have witnessed some people go through and what I have also witnessed God do in others' lives, my own included. I am not a bit confused, I understood everything you said completely. I am humbled to be trusted with such deeply personal details of your life, and I promise it is a trust I hold sacred.

Joint heirs with Him. Given by God to Him. Participants in the fresh air of agape love with Him. Condemnation and fear of man be gone.

Sister listen to this video and laugh...

https://issuudotcomslashdewane.wordpress.com/2017/05/05/death-was-arrested/