I’m Just a Guy: Who’s AshamedSample

Thank You!

If you’re walking through shame and feeling stuck, know this—you’re not alone. Every man has wrestled with regret. But there is freedom, and there is brotherhood waiting for you.

Take the next step and connect with other men who are walking this same journey: 👉https://thelionwithin.us/i-am-just-a-guy

Shame Off You

The shame I carried for so much of my Christian journey resulted in a walk that was spiritually passive. I would open my Bible, read His Word, then look at my life and immediately feel deflated. The standard I saw in Scripture felt like something I could never live up to, and because of that, I took myself out of the game.

Deep down, I knew who suffered the most from that decision — my family. Shame screamed at me constantly, telling me, “You’re disqualified,” and sadly, I believed it. I believed it so deeply that I removed myself from trying to lead my family spiritually, convincing myself that responsibility was better suited for men who seemed more qualified and who appeared to have a better grasp on life. My default became relying on our children’s pastor, who is incredibly gifted at teaching God’s Word.

Thankfully, he understood his role as a shepherd and not as the leader of my family. When I brought some of my insecurities to him, I was surprised to learn that many of the same struggles I was battling were also present in his own life, just in different ways. That realization opened my eyes. It dawned on me that the evil one uses shame broadly and relentlessly, but the results are always deeply personal — and they almost always lead to the same outcome: men who are defeated, tired, and passive.

Fortunately, he leaned into me during that time, and in turn, I leaned into him. Through that process, he helped me see that it isn’t degrees, knowledge, or having it all together that qualifies me to lead my family spiritually — it’s the condition of my heart.

When my heart was fully submitted to God, the shame that once held me hostage began to lose its grip. That doesn’t mean it disappeared completely. Even now, there are moments when shame tries to rear its head, but I’ve found that the closer I align my heart and my actions with what God desires, the less power shame has over my walk.

Perhaps that’s why verses like Isaiah 61:7 speak so deeply to me, and to so many men who regularly beat themselves up. Scripture tells us that the Lord will turn our shame into joy. That means what was once broken will be restored, what was once disqualified will now be chosen, and what was once imprisoned will be set free. That is redemption — and that is the gospel.

This journey of confronting shame hasn’t been easy, but I hope you’ve found some encouragement along the way. My prayer is that you remember you don’t have to live under the weight of the labels shame has placed on you. You are a son of the King. Your scars are no longer marks of disgrace — they are evidence of grace.

I recognize this study isn’t a cure-all for every shame you carry, but I hope you now see that the weight you’ve been dragging with you doesn’t belong to you anymore. Leave it at the cross — and whatever you do, don’t pick it back up. I’m cheering for you. And if shame has lost even a little of its grip on your heart through this journey, then that’s a touchdown.

Reflection Questions:

• What label has shame given you that God wants to replace with truth?
• How can you walk in confidence knowing that God has redeemed your story?