No Shame!

March 17, 2026

Scripture

“The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.”  Psalm 37:18-19

No Shame!

Shame is an awful thing! 

Shame destroys hope.  Shame destroys joy.  Shame destroys peace.  Shame destroys love.  Shame destroys generosity.  Shame destroys honor.  Shame destroys our assurance we are a child of God.  Shame destroys our confidence in prayer. 

Shame is an awful thing! 

Shame perpetuates secrecy.  Shame perpetuates brokenness.  Shame perpetuates a false sense of who we are.  Shame perpetuates blaming others.  Shame perpetuates avoiding accountability.  Shame perpetuates sin.  Shame perpetuates emotional and spiritual immaturity.   

Shame is an awful thing!

Shame destroys a healthy relationship with my self.  Shame destroys my relationships with other people.  Shame can destroy my relationship with the Lord God. 

The good news is the Lord God does not want you to live with shame.  Even when things are the most difficult, the Lord God is not eager to shame us.  In Psalm 37:18-19 David writes; “The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.”     

David learned the Lord God knows our days and knows our heart.  He writes; “The Lord knows the days of the blameless…”

David learned the Lord God wants us to live with Him forever.  He writes; “…their heritage will abide forever…”

David learned the Lord God does not want to shame us when we make choices that separate us from Him and from other people.  He writes; “…they are not put to shame in evil times…”

And yet, there are days and even seasons when we experience a deep and overwhelming feeling of shame.  Maybe it was something we said or failed to say.  Maybe it was something we did or failed to do.  Maybe it was something unholy upon which we let our mind focus.  Maybe it was something we let slip away in our relationship with Jesus. 

Even in our overwhelming shame, Jesus desires to take the shame away.  Jesus lived, died, and lived again so we could be free from shame and guilt; forgiveness and redemption!  Instead of piling on the shame, Jesus offers us healing and hope and honor. 

However, the process of healing our shame is not always easy.  The healing of shame will require exposing the cause of our shame to the light.  Confessing the cause of our shame to Jesus is required to be healed of our shame.  Sometimes confessing the cause of our shame to another person (i.e., a close friend, a counselor, a pastor, etc.) is necessary to be healed of our shame.

The temptation for those who are overwhelmed with shame is allowing the Prince of Darkness (i.e., Satan) to keep us in the darkness and desperation of our shame.  It is in the darkness, that shame tells us lies about who we are; i.e., our identity, our worth, our value! 

The enemy of shame is the light who is Christ.  In I John 1:7 the Apostle John writes;  “…if we walk in the light, as he himself (Christ) is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”  (Compare John 8:12)

Let the light of Christ shine on the pain of your shame as well as on the cause of your shame.  The secrecy of your shame must be brought into the light before Jesus will cleanse you of all your shame.

Refuse to believe the lies that your shame and the power of that darkness are telling you every day.  You can do part of this work by yourself.  But, you will not be able to do all the work that is necessary without the help of another person and the work of the Holy Spirit.    

A faith community, a spiritual guide, a small group of Christ-followers, a therapist, or a trusted Christian friend can be used by the Holy Spirit to heal the hurt, restore your honor, and set you free from the cause and the pain of your shame.  

Along the way of confession and prayer, the good news is you will begin to experience freedom from the cause of your shame.

In Psalm 37:18-19 David writes; “The Lord knows the days of the blameless, and their heritage will abide forever; they are not put to shame in evil times; in the days of famine they have abundance.”  Those who draw near to the light who is Jesus will discover the healing and freedom of God’s forgiveness today and forever.  Your shame will be gone!    

Reflect

Guilt draws into question a behavior the Word of God has identified as sin.  In contrast, shame draws into question my identity as a precious child of God.  Changing my behavior is one thing.  Restoring my identity as a person of worth, as a child of God, and as a precious and loved person is much more difficult.  Do you hold on to a secret that leaves you living with shame?  How long has that shame been eating away at your hope, your joy, and your love?  How has shame diminished your value?    

Pray

Lord God, I confess I am experiencing shame.  Sometimes my shame draws my assurance of eternal life with you into question.  I have tried so many times and in so many ways to rid myself of the shame.  But, it continues to wreck me in ways that leave me feeling less lovable, less valued, less redeemable.  Lord God, give me the courage to confess the cause of my shame to you first.  Then, give me the courage to confess the cause of and struggle with my shame to a trusted friend or spiritual guide.  I pray in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

Act

First, confess the cause of your shame to Jesus.  Bring the secrecy into the light of Jesus’ love.  Second, determine with whom you might confess the cause of your shame.  Bring the secrecy into the light of a friend’s love.  Third, read Scripture every day that is a reminder you are loved by Jesus, you are valued by Jesus, and you are a precious and accepted and loved child of the Lord God.