“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth.” Isa. 54:4 (ESV)
Dear heavenly Father, I bless you for your Word and it’s power to heal and free us in the core of our being—at the place of our lingering shame. Indeed, the eradication of all shame is one of the things I’m most looking forward to when Jesus returns. Never again will we feel “dis-graced,” only “fully-graced.” Never again will we remember the wounding events of our childhood, or of our youth, or of our adult years. Never again will we feel the disintegrating and paralyzing power of shame, or the need to cover up, look down or run away.
The Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” Rom. 10:11 (ESV)
And there’s only one reason for such a hope: Because Jesus bore the full weight of our guilt and has broken the eviscerating power of our shame. To believe in Jesus is to trust in the One who was shamed for us on the cross—the One who doesn’t despise our weaknesses or spurn our brokenness. Nor does Jesus turn away from us when we feel fractured or fragile, too self-aware or too easily condemned. Yes, Jesus has clothed the nakedness of our shame with the garments of his grace. Hallelujah, for such mercy and tenderness, understanding and compassion!
Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Rom. 5:5 (ESV)
Father thank you that the promise of a shame-free eternity isn’t self-hype but a sure hope. As we wait for the Day of über-healing, we now live in the day of your lavish love. You have poured, and you’ll continue to pour your love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. May the voice of the Spirit witnessing to our beloved-ness drown out all other voices pestering us about our worthless-ness. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ wonderful and merciful name.
