Bold and Beautiful Exemplo

Shame

Body:

I’m not good enough… I must be perfect to overcome my past… If people only knew who I am on the inside... I’m not important… I’ve sinned too much to be forgiven... I’m unworthy of God… No one could ever love me...

Shame is one of the biggest roadblocks to a relationship with Christ. Whereas guilt is a belief that we’ve done something wrong, shame tells us that we are something wrong. Because we believe that there is something fundamentally wrong with us or that we are beyond forgiveness, we put up walls that keep God at a distance and just focus on doing the best we can on our own. We drive ourselves to make up for our flaws or we retreat into ourselves and negative behaviors, all the while wishing we could just find peace with being who we are. But, alas, that never happens. Not until we open ourselves up to the truth that can set us free.

Whether our shame stems from a rejection or abuse in our past, a major trauma, a physical disability or any host of other sources, it all must come to the cross if we are going to be free from it. We will never be free of it on our own. The enemy will continue to lie to us, and we will never find the peace and acceptance we so desperately long for.

At the feet of Jesus, however, shame can be put to death. We can finally realize the truth about ourselves and that we are totally and completely worthy of love because of Him.

By turning to God’s Word, we find shame-shattering verses such as Romans 8:1, which tells us that there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ; Psalm 103:12, which says that He has removed every transgression from us as far as the east is from the west; 2 Corinthians 5:21, which says that we are right with God because of Christ; and Romans 8:31-21, which says that nothing—absolutely nothing—can separate us from His love.

Women, whatever shame you’re carrying, it’s a load that can be laid down. You can be free and be at peace with yourself and who you are if you learn what God’s Word says—that you are wholly and deeply loved just because you are His. You don’t have to make up for anything you’ve done or that’s been done to you. All you need to do is find the truth and let it set you free.

 Questions:

1. What are you ashamed of?
2. How does your shame affect your daily life? How does it affect your relationship with God?
3. Are you willing to read His Word and discover what He says about you, or will you continue to believe lies and remain a prisoner of shame?