Shame wiggles its way back into my life without much notice. Shame keeps me silent, steals my ability to think straight, and leaves me defeated. Shame by its very nature speaks lies wrapped up in little whispers. Whispers that only I can hear.
“See, you are the problem.”
“You’re just too complicated, too sensitive and too difficult to love.”
“You will never move past your issues.”
“You have nothing to offer, so don’t even try.”
Shame leaves me isolated and hopeless. But are those statements true? No.
Truth is:
Yes, I have problems, but that doesn’t mean I am one.
Yes, I’m complicated and sensitive but that doesn’t mean I can’t be loved.
I have already moved past several issues in my life, so why the word “never”? Hmm.
I have something to offer others: my story, my perspective, my experiences, my passions and gifts and talents, and my hope.
Today I have hope even though sometimes I still find myself listening to the voice of shame. Hope is help for the hopeless. HOPE is my one word for 2014. And my hope is found in Christ alone.
He is my hope for today.
He is my hope for tomorrow.
He is my hope for change.
And He is my hope for love…
(2-PART QUESTION FOR YOU: What is something shame says to you and what is truth? Please share in the comments or reply back to this email if you are a subscriber. I’d love to know how you fight the lies.)
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13 NKJV
( PS If you suffer from feelings of shame, please know you’re not alone. There is hope and healing available for you no matter what has happened. And even if you’ve had a setback that doesn’t discredit the progress you’ve already made. You can get back up from a season of defeat. You can stop listening to lies and start listening to truth and believe again. There is always grace. There is always new mercies. And thank God, there is always hope. . .ALL things are possible for those who believe. Mark 9:23. Believe, my friend, just believe all over again.)
I listened to an interview yesterday in which I learned that the voice of shame speaks in extremes – hence, the “never” and “you always”. That’s how we know it’s a lie. I am blown away by hearing the voice of the enemy being replaced by the Voice of Truth in my mind. This is the work of Christ, not my work. All I’ve done is place my faith in Him. This morning, I actually heard Him say, “your little depression can’t get in the way of what I have planned for you.” Can you imagine! I used to be bombarded by the lies of the enemy in my head. The more I trust Christ the more His Voice rings louder.
Amen. This is a great example of listening to the voice of Truth. So glad to hear your story. God’s plan prevails over any depression. And I agree the more we trust, the better we hear. I recognize I spent too much time listening to the wrong voice last year, but I am committed to changing that, so help me God. We are overcomers!
Shame tells me people would not want me if they knew what I’ve done.
Truth says, I have loved you with an everlasting love. If God be for you what can mere man do to you? Walk in newness.
Thanks for sharing, Dotty. I love your last sentence: walk in NEWness.
Shame says to me that my best days are behind me, that – because of my sin, I am disqualified from life. Shame tells me I will never be enough and that I am to blame for everything. Truth tells me that the best and most rewarding days are in front of me. It reminds me God can redeem anything. It tells me I am not disqualified from my God given role in this life due to my past ill behavior. In fact, truth informs me that I am more qualified now than before. Truth tells me that God cannot use someone before they are truly broken, and there is no question I have been. Truth tells me I am a new man because of God’s work of regeneration in my life. Truth tells me the voice of shame is a lie and a shackle to which Christ has graciously given me the key.