Shame: Do you believe its lies?
I recently spoke to someone regarding harsh words they had said to another. This acquaintance said they just “couldn’t forgive themselves.” After gently pointing out the theological inaccuracy of this statement, I started pondering their feelings of shame over the incident.
From personal experience, I can tell you that shame can keep you up at night, cause you to feel dirty and worthless, and separate you from others, even those who love and respect you. Shame whispers “what if they knew” in your ear and negates God’s grace. Shame keeps you from opening up and getting the sound counsel you most surely need.
Believing shame’s lies puts you on the road of condemnation, as Abel’s blood cried out from the ground (Gen. 4:11), and separates us from God’s grace and mercy. Jesus’ blood speaks a better, more powerful word of grace over us,
You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel (Heb. 12:24 NLT).
For us Jesus endured the cross and despised its shame (Heb. 12:2).
As one who has struggled with shame, I urge you to reach out to a Biblical Counselor who will help you find the grace and freedom the cross brings. Consider this personal reflection an invitation to walk through your shame and brokenness with a Biblical counselor:
Broken Glass
Will you walk across the broken glass of my life?
You may be wounded in the process.
My intention is not to hurt you,
but the shards are scattered wide and deep.
Would you take the risk to help me heal?
Could you accept my pain?
You may not make me whole again,
But you could make a part of me complete.
You can’t be my Savior but,
You can be His hands and feet
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness (1 John 1:9 NLT).
So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free (John 8:36 NLT).
The devotional and poem were written by Carol Wright, a BCC counselor located in our Northwest Indiana offices.
Just for You
In our Resource Center, we have another helpful article on this topic, called the Shame: What It Is, How To Heal. If you’re interested in learning about other topics, search the almost 400 articles in our Resource Center.
