Shaming Shame

We all have experienced shame; it is a basic part of being human.

But how we deal with it makes a HUGE difference.

Shame is different from guilt. We feel guilty for what we do. We feel ashamed of who we are.

Shame is fear-based and drives us to want to hide or protect ourselves from scrutiny. It is hardly ever a helpful or motivating emotion.

Shame is the discomfort experienced when we don’t live up to the expectations of others. It is a sense of worthlessness or inadequacy.

Shame is the remorse and/or embarrassment experienced when we perceive that we have let others down or when we expect (or receive) their scorn or ridicule.

Shame has to do with self-disapproval and it can be very powerful and VERY destructive.

Shame is about embarrassment, humiliation, feeling of low value and above all, powerlessness.

Shame tends to make us feel alone and outside society. It is dangerous psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually.

And, unless we deal with our shame, it accumulates and begins to weigh us down and it will block us from fully experience the LIFE that Jesus brings.

Jeremiah 3:25 “We lie down in our shame, and our reproach covers us. For we have sinned against the LORD our God, We and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God."

It is useless to try and hide our sins

God wants to deal with it, ALL OF IT!

God knows that damning effect sin and SHAME have in our lives.

God wants a relationship with you, as a son or daughter…Come to the LORD as soon as you sin; not just when shame or guilt overwhelms you.

God doesn’t want us to be like trained animals—like robots. He wants fellowship with those who come to Him through choice in response to His love and faithfulness.

God gives pretty simple instruction: “If you want sorrow, then be wicked”.

The wicked will reap the consequences of their actions. In their rejection of God’s plan will find no comfort or relief. They can expect sorrow/pain/anguish and no relief from their shame. This is NOT how God wants us to live!

Pretty simple instruction: “If you want mercy, then trust in the Lord”

Those who trust in the Lord can always expect to experience God’s mercy (kindness, favor) to carry them through to a place of deliverance.

Look to God to deliver you. Look to God for forgiveness. Look to God for freedom from shame. This is how God wants us to live!

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” ( 2 Corinthians 5:21)

God gave us a way to bring our sins to Him--and to go away forgiven. But we have to come clean 100 percent before God.  And then, we have to face the consequences of our sin.

God never rejects anyone who comes to Him with true repentance and a desire for restored fellowship.

“Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore, in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs.” (Isaiah 61:7)

God will convict you of sin that you need to confess. But Satan will accuse you of sin God has already forgiven. Shame comes from the enemy, not God! Your sin is none of the enemy’s business- Jesus paid it all!

“Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation;
My God will hear me. ⁸ Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me. ⁹ I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness. ¹⁰ Then she who is my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?”  My eyes will see her; now she will be trampled down like mud in the streets. (Micah 7:7-10 (emphasis by me)

We need to let Jesus come to us like He did to the men and women who were in such despair and hopelessness. We need to let Jesus bring hope in way that ONLY He can bring it; through His Word (the Bible), through worship of Him, through spending time with Him.

And because of His death and resurrection ALL who ask can have new life!

 “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

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All Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.