Deep Clean: Getting Rid of Shame, Toxic Influences, and UnforgivenessSýnishorn

Deep Cleaning Our Shame

What would your life be like if you never experienced shame? Imagine never feeling unworthy, inadequate, or like you have to prove yourself. What risks might you take if shame didn’t hold you back? 

Unfortunately, we live in a broken world, and shame is no stranger to us. In fact, shame is one of the first emotions that shows up after the first sin.  

So, what is shame? 

Shame is the overwhelming feeling that our mistakes become our identity. Let’s take it back to the Garden. 

God tells Adam and Eve they’re free to help themselves to anything—except fruit from one tree. The serpent convinces Eve to try it, she convinces Adam, and shame quickly swoops in. 

Instead of running to God to admit they made a mistake, they feebly try to hide and cover themselves up. 

We do this, too. We make a mistake, and our instinct is to hide it. Or we’re too embarrassed, ashamed, or prideful to admit to God and others that we messed up, so we stew in our shame, feeling alone and broken. 

Guilt says, “Eating that fruit was wrong.” Shame, on the other hand, says, “You’re bad because you ate that fruit.” 

Guilt can often be the gateway to repentance, strengthening our relationship with God. Shame keeps us stuck in sin, distancing us from God. 

But when we follow Jesus, we don’t have to live in shame. Jesus’ empty tomb is a resounding call for shame to come off you. Just look at what Jesus did for us: 

… For the joy set before him He [Jesus] endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of God. Hebrews 12:2 NIV

Can you imagine how much shame Jesus endured as He faced that cross? He’s naked, beaten beyond recognition, and about to die a very public death. And yet He endured the shame of the cross so that we could overcome shame once for all. 

That’s why the answer to shutting down shame isn’t self-help. It’s not doing good things. It’s not telling ourselves we’re awesome. It’s not ignoring our mistakes or compensating for them. 

The answer to shame is an empty grave. And when we focus less on what we’ve done and more on who God is and what He’s done for us—we’re on our way to conquering shame. 

The next time you’re trapped in a toxic shame spiral, convinced that what you’ve done disqualifies you from the family of God, here’s the truth you declare: 

I am not ____. Because of Christ I am ____. 

I am not bad. Because of Christ I am forgiven. (Romans 8:1, John 3:17) 

I am not broken. Because of Christ I am loved. (John 3:16) 

I am not enough, but Christ in me is more than enough. (Romans 8:37) 

Whatever lie shame is telling you, shut it down with God’s truth. 

Pray: God, I don’t want to separate myself from You any longer. Shame says that I’m too much, too bad, too messed up for Your love. But You say that because of Christ, I am loved, worthy, chosen, called, and forgiven. Replace my lies with Your truth. Thank You, Jesus, for conquering shame and offering freedom. In Jesus’ name, amen.