Have you experienced shame? Have you experienced guilt? What brought about these feelings? Was it something you did that you didn’t want anyone to know about? Was it a reaction you had when someone hurt you? Was it a regret you wish you could redo?
Shame is something most of us have experienced. We worry what others will think of us if we reveal areas of our lives we are most ashamed of. We think, “Surely, they wouldn’t look at me the same way ever again. They might not want to be friends with me anymore. How could they love someone who did this?” Guilt, when pent up, holds the power to eat us alive from the inside out. We think, “Why did I say that? Why did I do that? Why didn’t I say something? Why did I let that happen? Why didn’t I fight for this? Why didn’t I achieve that?” We could go on and on. We often try to hold onto things we wish were different. But God wants something different for us. He wants us to give Him our shame and guilt and let Him replace them with grace.
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9a
God’s grace is a gift we don’t deserve, but He gives to us anyway. His grace washes away all our sin. All of our guilt. All of our shame. He makes what’s broken, whole, and what’s wrong, right. Choose today to walk in the grace that’s been given to you.
Today's Reflection: How is God calling you from shame & guilt into His grace?
Author: Gracie Martin