Do not give into fear; shame no longer defines you or legally has a claim on you. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. Your shame-memory—from your youth and adulthood, is destined to be erased and eradicated… (Paraphrase of Isa.54:4). “Everyone who believes in Jesus will not be put to shame” (Rm.10:11). “Instead of your shame there will be a double portion—a doubled heaping of everlasting joy” (Isa.61:7).
Heavenly Father, thank you for your tenacious tenderness, inexhaustible patience, and heart-healing kindness. Often our war with shame outlasts our battle with guilt. Guilt tells us we have done wrong or haven’t done enough; but shame tells us we ourselves aren’t enough—we’re defective, unlovable, and will never be enough. Hallelujah, the Gospel has taken on both damning, disintegrating powers. Jesus has exhausted our guilt and taken our shame.
There’s nothing about us you don’t already know, Father. There’s nothing left to discover, shock, or disappoint you about us. You don’t love us as we should be, or will be, but as we are right now. You don’t love us to the degree we are like Christ but are in Christ—which is 100%. Thank you, Father, thank you—words that come easily, but words that feel woefully inadequate to express our sense of gratitude, relief, and peace.
As this April Wednesday begins and continues, we rest in your declaration that there’s no more disgrace, un-grace, semi-grace, or anti-grace “waiting in the wings” for us—only grace upon grace—more grace to be given in addition to the grace you’ve already given us in Jesus (Jn.1:16). Most loving Abba, help us resist every temptation to shame, be harsh, or demean others. Since you give us grace upon grace, free us to emit kindness upon kindness. So Very Amen.