The Heart Of Man: Overcoming Shame And Finding IdentityNäide

 THE CAVE -- Pt. 2

“I think if there was one thing that would surprise us that God would say it’s, “I’m not ashamed of you. And I’m not afraid of you. I want your heart. You think I’m out to change you, to ruin you, to in many ways judge you—all the judgment has already been taken care of, all your sin has already been taken care of, and what I want is for you to know My delight, even in your brokenness.”

What Jesus accomplished on the cross allowed the most scandalous approach to be His plan. He would be able to meet you in your shame, in your fear, failure, self-hatred and loss of hope. And you are made righteous, made holy, called holy. You were never a saved sinner. You are a saint, who yes, messes up. 

You have a choice to continue in the lie you have been buying. If you see yourself as a saved sinner, you will always believe you are a disappointment to the Father. You’ll never be enough, and you will give yourself permission to fail over and over. Because that’s what someone like you does. You have to hide. You have to wear masks. And, it gets stronger and worse and more intense. It costs the people around you.

Or you can make a different choice, for moments at a time at first, to trust who God says you are. You are new. You are righteous. You are already forgiven. You are His beloved. And inside you dwells rightness, holiness, cleanliness, power and beauty. Jesus did this. Jesus did all that re-wiring in you the day you trusted Him on the cross.
 

Reflection: If you believed that you received a shame-free identity the moment you put your hope in Jesus, what difference would it make? Even now, after your most recent failure?