Fear of Shame

This posting is in response to our discussion this past Wednesday about "Fear of Shame."  Each week we address some aspect of fear.  Join us!  Soup supper and discussion from 6-7 pm.  Prayers around the Cross - 7 pm. 

 

Shame.  Each of us carries a bit of it.  Some carry alot of it.  And some are weighed down by it and wear "shame" as an every day garment.  

Shame can be caused by something you have done.   It may be caused by something done to you.  Or, it can be a free floating state of being.  It can result from a familial or ethnic "something" that has instilled within you a belief that you are unloveable or of no value.  

Sometimes shame is perpetuated by our own inability to bring our shame based emotions to the surface.  And sometimes that inability obstructs healing.  How?  

Maybe it works like this as we pray for healing.  We pray.  We are aware of God's presence.  God's love becomes more noticeable, not because God's love increases, but because our awareness is heightened.  

Then God's love touches one of those places of shame that we avoid (fear), and we put on the brakes.  We don't want to go there, or open that can of worms, so to speak.  But if we continue to pray for healing God's love for us exposes shame and reveals its lie.  Shame says "you are not worthy.  you are not loveable".  God says "you are mine, and you are precious.  Fear Not!"

Trusting the words "Fear not, I am with you" we can move through shame and be made new.  

Shame does not have the final say.  Face it.  Walk towards it.  Embrace it, even.  It can't maintain its grip upon you in the presence of God.