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

King David is one of the most well-known figures in the Bible. He was anointed at age 16, defeated Goliath the giant, and became Israel's greatest king. 1 Samuel 13 even called him "a man after God’s own heart."

Yet David wasn't perfect. In 2 Samuel 11, we read how David stayed home one spring when kings typically went to war. That first choice led to a devastating series of decisions. While walking on his palace roof one evening, he spotted a beautiful woman bathing. Her name was Bathsheba.

Instead of looking away, David abused his power as king to bring her to his palace, where he had sex with her. When she became pregnant, David faced a crisis. He called Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, back from battle, hoping he would sleep with his wife and believe the child was his. But Uriah was too honorable—he refused to enjoy the comforts of home while his fellow soldiers remained on the battlefield.

When his cover-up failed, David chose an even more terrible solution. He arranged for Uriah to be abandoned on the front lines, guaranteeing his death. After Uriah's death and Bathsheba's mourning period, David brought her into his palace as his wife.

For months, David felt no remorse for his adultery and murder. Then God sent the prophet Nathan to confront him. Nathan told David a story about a rich man who stole a poor man's beloved pet lamb to feed a guest rather than taking from his abundant flocks.

David was outraged at this injustice, declaring the rich man deserved to die. That's when Nathan delivered those piercing words: "You are the man!"

At that moment, David finally felt the enormity of what he had done. This introduces us to our second lesson about shame: Facing our sin initially brings a feeling of shame.

When we first confront our wrongdoing, our natural reaction is often shame—that overwhelming sense of "I am so broken and flawed. How could anyone love me or want to be near me?!"

This pattern began in the garden with Adam and Eve. After disobeying God, they hid. When God asked Adam where he was, Adam replied, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid" (Genesis 3:10). Their shame drove them to hide from God.

For many of us, shame leads us to distance ourselves from God. We feel unworthy of His love and run away, making things worse. Later, we wonder why God seems distant, but the truth is, God hasn't moved—we have.

Author Brennan Manning once posed a thought-provoking question: “If Jesus appeared at your dining room table with complete knowledge of everything you are and are not—knowing your every secret, mixed motive, and dark desire...how would you feel?”

My first answers were unworthy, terrified, ashamed, or scared. I would never have said Manning's answer - "You would have felt loved and accepted."

When we face our sin, shame often follows. However, on day three of this plan, we'll examine how King David responded to his shame in a manner that led to restoration rather than isolation. His experience teaches us a life-changing lesson.