Shame

A google search defines shame as "a painful emotional state caused by guilt, unworthiness, and disgrace. It involves a negative self-evaluation where a person believes they are fundamentally flawed, inadequate, or dishonored."

God does not want us to see ourselves in this negative light. Jesus died to remove our shame. I know what it is like to feel unworthy and inadequate, to suffer years with low self-esteem. It is hard to love ourselves when we feel this way, and it affects how we interact with others, too. God loves us unconditionally even if we cannot love ourselves. We are valuable in His eyes. He made us in His image.

Guilt can be some heavy baggage to bear throughout the years. It is better to let the past go. We need to own our mistakes and take accountability. We learn from them, so we can move on and do better. It may be difficult sometimes, but we need to forgive ourselves, too. We can ask God to forgive us and to help us change. We need to hand our guilt over to Jesus, so we can be free.

I also know what it is like to feel broken like there is something wrong with me. I struggle to get my life together. Thankfully, God is the Potter and I am the clay. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Ephesians says that we are a masterpiece. God can make everything that is broken whole. He is the God of Peace, or Shalom, which means there is nothing missing or nothing broken. God restores us and makes us whole. The Bible says we are a new creation when we get saved. Plus, the Holy Spirit enables, equips, and empowers us to do whatever purpose God has called us to do.

Pray and ask God to see yourself the way He sees you. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Don't let shame keep you from being the best you can be and from accomplishing God's will for your life. You may still be a work in progress, but you matter and the world needs you to be you.

Isaiah 54: The Future Glory of Zion

54 “Sing, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband,”
says the Lord.
² “Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.
³ For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
    your descendants will dispossess nations
    and settle in their desolate cities.

⁴ “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.
    Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
    and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
⁵ For your Maker is your husband—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
    he is called the God of all the earth.
⁶ The Lord will call you back
    as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
    only to be rejected,” says your God.
⁷ “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
    but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
⁸ In a surge of anger
    I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
    I will have compassion on you,”
    says the Lord your Redeemer.

Isaiah 53:⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Peter 2:24 – “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 – “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

Romans 10:¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

1 Peter 2:6: "For in Scripture it says: 'See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.

Psalm 25:20: "Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you."

Psalm 34:5: "Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.