Shame is a harsh slavemaster. Shame wraps itself around our minds and our hearts and convinces us that, not only are we bad people who don't deserve acceptance or who don't measure up, but also that we can't ever be set free from it. We become convinced that this feeling of self-doubt and unworthiness is just going to be part of our lives from now on. But Jesus came to set us free from the lie that says we're not worth it. He came to accept us where we are and make us into what He has in mind for us. So how do I experience that? Is there something I need to do in order to take hold of that freedom?
Many of us consistently struggle with shame – that feeling of unworthiness or inadequacy because of something we’ve done or because of someone else’s judgment and criticism. Shame can negatively impact our sense of self-worth and can damage our connections with others. But scripture teaches that Jesus came, not just take away our sin, but to take away our shame. So for the next few weeks at Flagstone we’re going to recognize the power shame can have over us, and we’re going to discover how to break free from grip of shame in our lives.
