Shame

The other day, I was sharing the Gospel with a woman who, in the midst of our conversation, opened up about the deep weight of shame she had been wrestling with. She shared how it had been clouding her thoughts and distorting the way she viewed herself and her worth. As she spoke, I could feel her pain, and it reminded me of how many of us—myself included—have struggled with the same thing at some point in our lives.

Shame often has a way of lingering in hearts and minds. It tries to convince us that our mistakes and shortcomings define who we are, and it can become a barrier to experiencing the fullness of God’s love. In that moment of sharing the Gospel, God’s truth came rushing in: when God looks at us, He doesn’t see our flaws or mistakes—He sees Jesus.

This is the beauty of the Gospel. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, His perfect righteousness is credited to us. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross paid the price for our sin, and through His life and death, we are made new. Our mistakes no longer define us; Jesus’ perfect life and love do. God no longer looks at us and sees our weaknesses, our failures, or our shame—He looks at us and sees His Son.

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, it says, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Through Jesus, we are made righteous. Our weaknesses and failures are not the end of the story.

What’s even more incredible is that our weaknesses do not push God away; rather, they draw Him closer to us. We often think that our brokenness, our struggles, or our mistakes make us distant from God, but the truth is that it is precisely in our weakness that God’s strength is made perfect. As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

God’s love is not dependent on our perfection. He doesn't love us because we have it all together or because we’ve earned it. His love is unconditional, and it is in our brokenness that He meets us most profoundly. When we are weak, He is strong. When we feel we’ve failed, He embraces us with His strength. This is the beauty of the Gospel message: that God does not reject us because of our weakness. Instead, He eagerly draws us closer, offering grace, healing, and restoration.

However, we must also recognize that there is a difference between shame and conviction. Shame tells us that we are unworthy, broken beyond repair, and beyond hope. It traps us in our mistakes, convincing us that our identity is bound by our failures. Conviction, on the other hand, comes from Holy Spirit, guiding us to repent and turn away from sin, not to condemn us, but to lead us to greater freedom and healing. Conviction draws us closer to God, helping us grow in holiness, while shame drives us away, causing us to hide in guilt and fear. It’s important to remember that conviction is not a tool of rejection but a tool of love and restoration meant to bring us back into alignment with God's will.

In fact, feeling conviction is a true privilege. It signifies Holy Spirit's presence in our lives, guiding us toward transformation out of God's deep love for us. It’s through conviction that we grow and become more like Christ, and it’s a reminder that we are never alone in our journey toward spiritual maturity.

And here’s the truth: this is not just about the shame we feel from our past mistakes—it also applies to the shame we experience in the present. There are moments when we stumble, even after knowing Christ. We make decisions, say things, etc. In those moments, shame can creep back in and tell us that we’ve messed up so badly that God can’t possibly love us. But the same grace that covers our past also covers our present. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross doesn’t only forgive the sins of yesterday—it covers the struggles we face today. We are not defined by our present failures but by the righteousness of Christ that covers us.

One of the most powerful symbols of this freedom is when Jesus tore the veil in the temple. Before His death, the veil separated the Holy of Holies, where God's presence dwelt, from the rest of the temple. Only the high priest could enter, and even then, only once a year. But when Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51), signifying that we no longer need to be separated from God. We can now stand before Him, fully accepted, free from the shame that once kept us distant.

So, to anyone who struggles with the weight of shame, know that God is not far from you. He sees you as you truly are—through the lens of Jesus. When God looks at you, He sees His beloved child, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. You are loved, accepted, and forgiven. And in your weaknesses, He draws near. His grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in your weakness.

Our weaknesses only make Jesus hug us tighter. There is no shame too great, no burden too heavy for Him to bear. Bring your shame, your brokenness, and your weaknesses to Jesus, and let His love transform you from the inside out. You don’t have to carry that shame anymore. You are free in Christ. Walk in freedom from shame today!