The Shame of Shame

 

 

“There’s no hope for me.”

“It’s too late for me.”

“God couldn’t possibly love someone like me.”

 

These are words you may have heard or may have said. 

Self  loathing.

Not allowing yourself enough grace to receive grace.

We shame ourselves over the shame of what we know, have done or thought to do in its stark contrast of the perfection of God’s glory that stands so pure and beautiful and good.

We think we don’t deserve or can bear to be in the knowledge of our own evil in the light of His knowing.

We try to hide.

We put up a wall. A covering. Something to block a relationship with others. With God.

They can’t know and I don’t deserve the love. The kindness.

The grace.

Sometimes we cover our own eyes.

But, His knowing is bathed in love, in mercy and in forgiveness. 

In the Garden, the LORD came to them.  They hid from Him as He looked for them. They covered themselves.  They could not bear to be bare.  Shame. They made their separation through shame.

Genesis 3:8 “…hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God…”

They knew good and evil.  Sin. The contrast was shame to them.

In His mercy, God in that moment called to them.

Sin had entered the world and God had a plan.  His plan was and is for life. Sin would meet an end. Sin would not be permitted to live forever as the Tree of Life was guarded to keep from giving sin an eternity. 

With every curse that came with the sin, God would redeem through the life and blood of Himself in our presence as Christ. His death for the wages of sin and His life resurrected is our life-given grace for eternity. 

A relationship…for eternity.

 Shame taken.

Grace given.

 For Life.

Relationship and Love.

 Just as we are because of the way He is.

Don’t let shame be your covering. Sometimes dropping that covering is a “cold and broken Hallelujah.” But He Himself is your clothing.

 Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ

 

Drop the shame and wrap in His robe of love and forgiveness. 

Grace looks so good on you.

He loves to have you in His presence.

You are loved.