Feeling Better: Devotions From Time of GraceNäide

My Spirit: I'm so ashamed

Does anybody feel ashamed about anything anymore? The immediate response might be no. Criticism like the phrase "you ought to be ashamed of yourself" doesn't seem to haul much freight anymore. Cohabitation and childbirth out of wedlock no longer carry much social stigma.

But I think people still feel shame. For one, their consciences are still basically tuned to God's unchanging moral standards. God wired consciences to make people uncomfortable when they sin. For another, even if society no longer imposes consequences for sin, God still does.

Unresolved guilt does not go away by itself. People can play denial games, distract themselves by staying busy, try to pay it off by doing charitable deeds or rationalize it, but they can't make it go away. God's goal: bring people to confess, "Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner."

There's only one way to get rid of shame and guilt--by putting it on Jesus. It is his gift, his delight, to take that load off you. Let him give it to you today. "The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:22).