“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth.” Isa. 54:4
Heavenly Father, hallelujah for the Day when all shame and shaming will be eradicated. Never again will we remember the shame of our childhood, youth, or adult years. Never again will we feel the disintegrating, paralyzing power of shame, or the compulsion to hide and cover up. And never again will we use shame to strike back, get even, or harm anyone.
There’s only one reason for this profound hope: Because Jesus bore the full weight of our guilt, and has broken the muting, face-covering, dignity-robbing power of our shame. “The Scripture says, “’Everyone who believes in him (Jesus) will never be put to shame’” (Rom.10:11). Father, help us come more fully alive to this good news: You don’t despise our weaknesses, “secrets,” and insecurities. You don’t turn away from us when we feel fractured, fragile, or like failures. Thank you, Abba.
But the Gospel gives us much more than just the breaking and lifting of shame. It gives us the fullness of your acceptance and affection. Hallelujah… you see us, know us, welcome us, and fully delight in us… in this very moment. “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5). You have poured—not dribbled, your love on us (1Jn.3:1-3), and into our hearts. Thank you, and keep pouring. So Very Amen.