If I ask you to imagine feeling ashamed, can you do it?
What types of bodily sensations does it provoke inside?
Have you ever felt shame so deep all you want to do is hide your head in the beachy sand and hope the stalking seagulls don’t come down pecking at you until you're left a bloody shell?
Do you ever wonder if God is ashamed of who you are?
Now, before you easily dismiss this last question, really think about it. Imagine yourself on your worst day. Seriously, put yourself there. You hurt someone. You hurt yourself. You did something from which you think you can never come back. Do you feel the deep burn inside your chest? You can’t undo your mistake, and the natural consequences are here to remain.
Now, do you feel the deep burn inside your chest?
THEN ask yourself, “Do I feel God is ashamed of me?”
Researchers say that shame causes a person’s body to curve inward upon itself as if they were trying to be as small as possible.
It’s a burning caustic drip inside that eats at you slowly—moment by moment—until what is left is so pitiful, it should only be discarded. It has no use. No value. No significance. No dignity. It only belongs in the trash—or to be used as seagull bait.
Shame claws at you, screaming out...
I am worthless.
It feels true and maybe you even dare to whisper, "It is true."
Is it?
The opinion of someone else—two someone else's—says something entirely different.
Hebrews 2:11 and 11:16 shine Father's healing light directly into shame's eye.
Our brother, Jesus Christ, and our Father God are not ashamed of us. One of our core needs of being understood and known is met with tenderness and compassion. We have a High Priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses and a Father who invites us into his throne room of grace during our time of need.
When is our time of need? It is both when we are tempted to sin and when we feel shame.
Two members of the trinity band together in their unconditional acceptance of you.
Dad and Big Bro's opinion trumps any feeling you may have any old day.
Do you feel them coaxing you to lift your head out of that gritty and abrasive sand and dare to peek up into the warm sunshine? Look around. The seagulls have been shooed away, and instead, there waits the Father and Son—smiling at you—glad to have you as part of the family. Father will dry your smudged tears and Christ will probably let you blow your nose on his robe. Plus, I’m sure they are waiting to go jumping in the waves with you, anyway.
They don’t feel ashamed of you. They delight in you. You—however it is that Father has created you—are delighted in. The personality quirks, things that you don’t care for about yourself, your looks, talents, passions, and everything—were made with a purpose. God’s purpose in making you as you is because He and his Son, our brother, wanted to enjoy you just as you are.
So, leave the shame back in that sand for the seagulls to find and peck to death. You don’t need it anymore. Grab hands with the Father and the Son and run into the water! You have some waves of love to let wash over you as you jump in joy and gratitude. How they delight in you exactly as you were made to be.
Leave all expectations behind as you just be yourself today. Enjoy Father and Christ enjoying you.
That’s freedom.
That’s love.
That’s grace.
Glory!
.....
Aleisha Cate @GraceunLEISHed
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