Stronger in the Difficult PlacesSample

Day 2

THE ROOTS OF SHAME

Most of us received clear messages about ourselves in the past—words spoken about us that linger. What is the source of your shame? Maybe your shame came from a teacher who scolded you in front of your class­mates. Maybe it came from a parent who said they never wanted you. Maybe it was made clear to you that you could never measure up to your sibling. Maybe you were dumped by your sweetheart because someone “better” came along. Or maybe your shame came from a time you failed at a sport.

The tricky thing about shame is that it can develop from a multitude of scenarios. If you take time to examine your past, you can discover the source of your shame. As you do, you can begin to change, to accept yourself, and to receive love from others.

Think of Peter, who denied Jesus three times on the night he was betrayed (Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75; John 18:15-27). Afterward, he “went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62 NIV). The guilt and shame he felt in that moment must have been overwhelming.

But Jesus understood. He restored Peter with three commands to “feed” Jesus’s “sheep” (John 21:15-17 NIV). In fact, Peter did move beyond the shame of his failure, going on to become a great church leader and who “strengthened his brothers” (see Luke 22:32).

Remember, you are so much more than your shame story. You are loved and desired. You are a beautiful human who has walked through fire. All of who you are and all the decisions you made make sense be­cause of how your unique temperament interacted with your environment. You have a core of strength that has kept you alive and finds help when you need it.

There is so much good in you, and it’s time you acknowledge it. We are not mining for pain without a purpose. On the other side of your shame is the fluffiest, lightest, brightest cloud of peace and hope, the kind God has intended for you.

What was the main message you received about yourself in younger years? What truth about yourself did you hold on to even when your felt like it was being silenced or overshadowed?