Starting up at the sky, I realize, I lost sight of Christ, what he has called me to do, his unique plan for me, his purposes, his might, his power, his authority.
I lost sight of it all.
I looked at another person and decided God’s blueprint for my life wasn’t as good – wasn’t so possible – after all.
Where did I go wrong? I saw all that I wasn’t. I saw all that she was. And, as I saw all of her – I saw less of me. I saw none of God.
Then, the shame overpowered my guilt. It crushed me because I lacked faith. It left me feeling embarrassed that Miss “Encourage” was “Discouraged” (I am called the “Cheerleader of Faith” after all). It said I am defined by my sin of envy, jealousy and comparison.
My guilt said I messed up – but, my shame said I would always mess up.
Isn’t that how it is with shame? Shame says we are selfish. Shame says we will always steal God’s glory. Shame says we will always fail. Shame says we may as well give up. Shame said we can’t do any good – why try?
Shame tumbled me. It came to thwart God’s plan – to knock me down. Unrecognized, it would have succeeded.
But, as I stared at my wreckage, God got me to thinking…
I got wrecked, because I took my eyes off of Christ.
I got wrecked to divert me from God’s mission.
We can’t let shame knock us down. We can’t let shame win. Because, you better bet it will try to tell us that we aren’t good, holy or lovable. Shame will come to trap us under the bricks, holding us down so that we can’t accomplish God’s purposes.Shame is one of the devil’s best tools to chisel away at our faith walk.
He has used it since the very first days – days when all was happy and joyful and peaceful in the garden of Eden. He offered sin on a plate – and now we talk about this apple over and over again.
The devil offered, Eve accepted, the world defected.
Sin distanced us from God. In fact, we see shame in the bible, as Adam and Eve hid from God (Genesis 3:8) after they sinned. The were so burdened by shame and so overwhelmed that they didn’t want to stand in front of their glorious maker. They wanted to hide, to go unseen, to cower in fear, to go under the radar, to pretend it didn’t happen. They wanted to avoid God at all costs.
Shame makes us run. It makes us hide.
The devil knows this. He knows if he can get us to move towards sin, he can hit us with his powerful wrecking ball. He has a plan to hit us – and to hit us hard.
- Hit them with regret.
- Hit them with fear.
- Hit them with embarrassment and shame.
- Hit them so hard they can’t get up and walk to the foot of the cross.
- Hit them so they move away God, not towards repentance.
- Hit them so they forget that God forgives.
- Hit them so they walk away from believing in God’s grace.
- Hit them swiftly and trap them in sin.
…and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:8-9)
The Lord could still see them clear as day. He knew where they were – and what they had done. There is no hiding from God.
God wants us to come to Him – open, vulnerable and ready to receive what he has done.
Reveal your shame, and he will reveal grace. Come to him out of hiding and he will come to you with healing. Run to his arms and confess and he will give you rest.
God’s story of redemption is beautiful. It all circles back to Him. Even when we mess up – it is all about Him. Praise you God.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus… (Romans 8:1)
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12)
…this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. (Phil. 3:13)
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 8:12)
Boy did I need this.. Seems like that old devil’s been on overtime the last few days in the Scales family. Thanks for sharing I was getting pretty pitiful. Now I’m back…
Praise God that you saw this post Gale. I feel so blessed that you let me know how meaningful it was to you. God loves you; he sees you. He wants you to come to Him so badly. Praise God for his faithfulness to you sister.
LOVE this post dear friend. Amen and amen! We all needed this reminder today, praise you Lord!
Holly, we both needed this post. Thank you for inspiring some thoughts around this. I was surprised at God’s perfect timing. 😉
Yes, shame says we are a mistake. It places us outside the grace of God. Shame puts us in a prison but hearing God frees us to be who God created us to be. Lovely Post. I just posted about my experience with shame: http://www.hopeburstingforth.wordpress.com. Blessings & love!
We are both on the same page about shame Shelley! Praise God that he is greater! Much love to you. Looking forward to reading your post.
Very timely for me. I can’t get the old tape out of my head. I’m brand new to twitter. Not sure how I found you but would like to read more like this. Tutorial anyone?
Loretto,
I know what you mean. It can be really hard to let go of these feelings. When we come to the cross and lay out our sins, our past and our shame – God is faithful to heal us. I suggest you also read my post on Guilt – https://www.purposefulfaith.com/why-cant-i-be-better/ God has you in the palm of His hand. He loves you and has big plans for you.
Love this post on such an important topic, Kelly. I especially like the Psalm 103 verse. Satan uses guilt, condemnation, and shame to separate us from God. But our Father ALWAYS wants reconciliation…
Whew! Sounds like you’ve been in my head! Needed to read your words.
Thank you. #raralinkup
Ha! We have the same head, apparently! I am glad it was helpful Christy. Love you sister!
“Reveal your shame, and he will reveal grace. Come to him out of hiding and he will come to you with healing. Run to his arms and confess and he will give you rest.” Love this, Kelly! It’s so true….and has a wonderful ring to it as well. 😉
Kristi, thank you so very much. Thanks for joining the linkup too! I am delighted that you are a part of it! Have a blessed day!
Kelly, I love how the Lord used this feeling of shame to glorify Him in another encouraging, faith-filled, devil-pounding blog post! It is great that you outline some of the ways that the enemy can make us feel completely alien to God. Thank you for reminding us of God’s grace and how we can come with our arms wide open to receive His glorious embrace! I love reading your posts 🙂 God bless!
Thank you Ruth. The enemy knows our hot buttons and he loves to press them. Jesus is the only way to fight back. So thankful that you enjoyed the post and that you and I have found each other. I am grateful for you.
The more I read your posts the more my heart is inspired and encouraged! Love you, my friend! 🙂
Thank you, dear Tai. Love you!