From Hiding to Healing: Trade Unworthiness for God's Love and Break Shame's Power Over Youਨਮੂਨਾ

In the final section of David's prayer, he makes a bold request:

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

This brings us to our fifth and final lesson about shame: God honors honest prayers.

David doesn't make excuses. He's straightforward about his sin and his need for forgiveness. He asks God to hide His face from his sins and to create in him a clean heart. His prayer reveals his desire for restoration and a fresh start.

Jesus later emphasizes this principle in a parable about two men praying. One, a Pharisee, prays, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get."

In contrast, a tax collector "stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'"

Jesus concludes, "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God.”

Many people, especially those new to faith, overcomplicate prayer. They fear praying in public because they think they'll "do it wrong" or use the wrong words. However, as seen with David and the tax collector, God doesn't want perfectly crafted prayers. God wants honest ones.

When we bring our authentic selves, including our shame, before God in honest prayer, He responds. You don't need eloquent words or religious language. You just need to be honest with God about the shame that has been defeating you and ask Him, as David did, to forgive your sin and create in you a clean heart.

Shame tells us we're too broken, too far gone, or too unworthy for God to love or use us. But the truth is, God specializes in using broken people:

• David, an adulterer and murderer, became Israel's greatest king
• Peter, who denied Jesus three times, became a pillar of the early church
• Paul, who persecuted Christians, became the church’s greatest missionary

Your shame doesn't define you; God's grace does. Your past mistakes don't determine your future; God's mercy does. Your brokenness doesn't limit your potential; God's power does.

Today, I encourage you to pray an honest prayer like David's. What does that look like? Confess without excuses. Appeal to God's mercy. Ask God for a clean heart and renewed spirit.

Here's a simple prayer to start: "God, I've been carrying this shame about _________. I've believed the lie that I'm unworthy of your love because of it. Today, I confess this sin to you. I know your character is steadfast love and abundant mercy. Create a clean heart in me, God, and renew a right spirit within me. Thank you for your grace, which is greater than my shame. Amen."

If you'd like additional help breaking free from shame, click here for my free guide, "From Shame to Freedom: 5 Biblical Resources for Breaking Shame's Power Over Your Life." I'd love to keep encouraging you and helping you become more aware of God's love!