Release the Shame

A few weeks ago, I had a dream where an incident occurred with a friend, and when I looked into her eyes, the look of shame pierced my heart. That looked actually troubled me for several hours after I awoke, so much so that I remember having slight feelings of guilt for what occurred. Guilt because I couldn’t help protect her from the devastation. Have you ever had one of those dreams when whatever occurred seemed so real that you somehow felt remnants of the devastation as if it were real, and more than anything, you were overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that it wasn’t?

I’m not here to chat about dreams today, But I do want to encourage those of you who may be battling with shame. Shame can shape how we feel about ourselves and could derive from past failures, heinous acts done to us, or something we aren’t proud of, just to name a few. It’s daunting feelings that can make one feel unworthy, useless, and embarrassed.

Shame has the ability to make you feel like you aren’t worthy of God’s love, or any love for that matter. But that’s a lie. Shame can also make you feel like you aren’t enough, can never do or be enough. That’s a lie, too. I’ve probably shared this before, but here it is again. When I was going through my darkest days, I wanted and needed God badly. But I was too ashamed, and I thought I had to be pure and have it all together before bringing my cares to God. Little did I realize that He was really the only One who could actually loose me from my shame and bring forth a renewed mind. The One I was putting on hold was the solution the whole time. Think about it this way, God already knows, so nothing catches Him by surprise.

We all handle shame differently. However, if you haven’t already, I employ you to welcome God into your situation so He can begin to deliver you from the burden and bondage of shame. Through His love, first and foremost. Shame may try to force you to go in the opposite direction of God, but into His arms is actually the direction to go. There is no comfort, like the comfort of the Lord, that can release you from your shame.