Free from Shame

I believe that shame is the most deliberating emotion. We all know it’s weight. Life without shame is what we all desire and with God it is absolutely possible. In the very beginning when God created man and his wife, “they were both naked and not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:25) They were completely innocent and knew nothing about shame until they sinned. Once they did sin, they hid from God because of the awareness of their wrong doing. Do you try to hide from God? Do you want to be free?

I had a dream last night that touched me. It was very real to me and I hope that I can relay how it made me realize God’s heart and love for us. In the dream, I was at a very dirty residence, a sort of shack and when I tripped on some filthy pillows I was told they were for dogs. In a sort of separated area there was a little boy pacing back and forth, dirty with bare feet over little piles of dirty sand. He was making a frantic type of barking sound that was loud and sad. As if he didn’t know any other way to behave because of the environment he was in. I recognized his age to be around five years old. I pulled him out of this sort of caged area and right into an embrace. He fit perfectly into my arms. He laid his head on my shoulder. I immediately loved him. I asked if I could take him home. I wanted to bathe him, put him in clean pajamas and rock him to sleep along with my son. For the first time in my life I think I understood adoption. God tells us that when we are born again, we become His children. He is our loving heavenly Father. “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of His will.” (Ephesians 1:5)

Just like my dream we too are hopeless. Pacing back and forth in the muck of sin and shame with frantic emotions. We are wretched. Yet, God our Father looks at us like helpless children. He is able to lift us up and take us from these dark places. Not with disappointment, anger or disgust, but compassion. We too can rest on His shoulder. Finding comfort from our shame and forgiveness for our sins. At the cross, through the blood of Jesus Christ they are all washed away. Cleansing us from all unrighteousness. Clothing us in innocent pure white garments that we could never obtain on our own.

It’s His great love and mercy that rescues us and it’s His forgiveness that sets us free from shame. We can’t free ourselves, only Jesus can. “If the son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Reach out for that forgiveness from the Savior who’s “mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23) Then believe Him when he says your sins are removed “as far as the east is to the west.” (Psalm 103:12) Thank you, Lord.