Earlier this week, I heard a heartbreaking story of innocence lost…and a young lady who lived in silence and shame for several months before taking the first halting, brave steps into the light to share her secret.
The rebuilding and healing has begun. It is my prayer that from this day forward, she will choose to see herself in light of Scripture, through the very eyes of Christ, the Healer; the Repairer of the broken; the One who gives beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for the spirit of despair.
The One who bore her shame so that she would never have to.
We were never created to wear shame. We have been fashioned in the image of our Creator.
As Beth Moore has said, “Shame is Satan’s calling card.” In the original language, the word for shame means: “disgrace, dishonor, to disfigure.”
If you are a Christ follower, Jesus bore your shame on the cross (Hebrews 12:2). You are never to wear it.
Jesus will NEVER shame you.
If I could sit down and talk to this young lady, I would take her hands, look her in the eye and say,
“Dear One,
You are precious and honored in the eyes of your God. He loves you. He has crowned you with glory and honor and clothed you with strength and dignity. You are the apple of His eye. He speaks tenderly to you and is close to you when your heart is breaking. He will save you when you are crushed in spirit. He looks at you through eyes of mercy and forgiveness, through eyes of everlasting love and kindness. He delights in your beauty. He will redeem your life from the pit and crown you with love and compassion. He is doing a NEW thing; He is making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. He will bless you with peace. You are beautiful to Him and He sees no flaw in you.”
This is the heart of God for His own.
I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. —Psalm 34:4-5
(Scripture references: Is. 43:4; Ps. 8:5; Prov. 31:25; Deut. 32:10; Hosea 2:14; Ps. 34:18; Ps. 25:6-7 (Living Bible version); Ps. 45:11; Ps. 103:4; Is. 43:19; Ps. 29:11; Song of Songs 4:7).
Power Of A Moment 