Beating Shame

After Adam and Eve sinned, shame entered the world. That shame caused them to try to cover up their sin and also to try to hide from God. Today, it still does the same thing to us. It speaks in our mind to tell us we’re not worthy of God’s grace. It says that We don’t deserve His forgiveness. It builds a wall in our relationship with Him and with others. It makes us feel as if we are the on,y one who has done this and that no one else could possibly understand in its effort to isolate us. Shame is something we all deal with on some level. It affects our behavior and attacks our identity. It knows if it can get you to question whose you are then it has the power to change how you act.

In John 13, Jesus had just been arrested in front of the disciples. Earlier that night, Peter had told Him he would fight to the death for Him. However, as Peter watched from a distance, he was questioned by a little girl saying he was a disciple. In that moment, he denied knowing Jesus. Two more times he swore he didn’t know Jesus, a rooster crowed and then Jesus turned to look at him. Peter ram outside and wept bitterly in his shame. Even after Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to them, shame had a hold on Peter. He went back to his old life of fishing. It took Jesus asking him to admit he loved Him three times to break the power of shame. Peter had to quit listening to the voice of shame telling him he was unworthy to be a follower and replaced that voice with the voice of Jesus saying, “Feed my sheep.” Listening to the voice of Jesus gave him his identity back.

In John 14:26 Jesus said, “The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I have told you” (GNT). Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to help us overcome shame. He reminds us of the words of Jesus that says you are His child. I love that the next verse says He will also give us peace. That peace shuts down the voice of shame. That peace helps us rest in the assurance that we can rest in His grace rather than to try to earn it. His promise to us to give us peace and the voice of the Holy Spirit are powerful tools to help you fight against shame that wants to make its home in your mind. Be like Peter and choose to listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that reminds you of your identity in Him. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit that says your past is not held against you because it has been cast into the Sea of Forgiveness. You have an ally in the Holy Spirit on your side to help you beat shame.

Photo by Jessica Mangano on Unsplash