THE SOUND of FREEDOM: Released From the Shackles of ShameSample

THE WEIGHT OF SHAME

Fear caused Adam and Eve to hide from God in the garden after they disobeyed His command. They were ashamed and covered themselves once their eyes were open to sin. It reminds me of going through the potty-training stages with my children. Whenever they didn't quite make it to the potty and needed to be cleaned, they hid.. embarrassed. I would find them in a corner with fear and disappointment on their face. Wouldn't it be a sad ... stinky situation if they carried the stench of fear, embarrassment, and regret all day... every day?

The above analogy describes my behavior before I gave my life to Christ. Just like my babies that couldn't clean themselves... neither could I. Hiding was not the answer. While developing a relationship with God, the Holy Spirit exposed shame as the enemy's deceitful means of blocking us from God's promises. Running to Jesus freed me from the weight of guilt and shame, and He will do the same for you. He loves us unconditionally and has provided healing, wholeness, and freedom through the message of the cross. As our Savior, he committed to being the cleaning agent we needed... leaving no evidence or residue from our past.

The first part of John 10:10 says that the thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy (and he uses shame to do just that). The second part of that same scripture is what we can rest in by faith; Jesus came to give us an abundant life, including freedom from this world's burdens. His yoke is easy, and his burdens are light.

Now that the heaviness of guilt and shame has been identified and lifted, it is time to confront and conquer. Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to lay aside every weight and the sin that besets, oppresses, or afflicts us. One translation reads, "Let us throw off any extra baggage and remove the sin that causes us to stumble." We have the power to get rid of the shame and sin that weighs us down.

Have you avoided people and opportunities or minimized your gifts and talents due to living in the space of shame? Well, today is your day to be free. When we walk in liberty, we give others connected to us permission to do the same.