The Power of Shame
Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honour beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12:2b (NLT)
In yesterday’s devotional, we looked at the story of the woman who suffered for twelve years from constant bleeding. She had tried every kind of remedy, but they just brought disappointment and more despair. When she heard that Jesus, the Healer, was coming to her village, a glimmer of hope rose within her - hope of freedom.
But freedom came at a cost. The cost of coming out from the fringes so that she could grab hold of Him, even if it were just the hem, the fringe of His garment. Her desperation drove her into the crowd where Jesus was. She pushed through the crowds she had always avoided, never losing sight of Him. As she came close, she bent down and reached out her hand to touch the hem of His garment. Immediately, she was healed. When Jesus realised what had happened, He looked at her tenderly and said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” Luke 8:43–48
Touch the Hem
For the woman with the bleeding, shame was her constant companion. She felt shackled to it. We may also feel this way. We may feel as if our shame has taken up permanent lodgings in our lives, causing us to listen to its false narrative. A false narrative that Satan whispers into our hearts and minds, paralysing us. When we allow this narrative to shackle us, to imprison us, shame will wield its power over us.
The woman with the bleeding felt powerless, but she knew that the only One who had the power to release her from her shame was Jesus. Jesus felt our shame when He was condemned to death. Our Saviour was stripped naked. He suffered mockery (Matthew 27:27-31). He did not hide His face from shame and spitting (Isaiah 50:5-6). He bore our shame. He suffered the shame because He knew that His shame would be turned to joy when He took His rightful place on His throne (Hebrews 12:2). His power over shame opens our prison doors.
Jesus is waiting for us to reach out to Him. To touch the hem of His garment so that He can remove our shame and seat us in a place of honour where our self-worth is restored. Where we experience the peace and joy we long for. He is waiting for us to come in desperation and to touch the hem of His garment so that He can tenderly say to us, “Child, go in peace.”
When Jesus and his shame occupy our attention, our own shame becomes less controlling. Fix your eyes on the one who absorbed shame and then announced that its reign was over. Edward T. Welch
Reflection:
Will you take that step of faith and come in desperation to Jesus and give Him your shame and inner torment? He will not condemn you as the world does. He will blot out your shame.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for bearing my shame by dying a shameful death on the cross. Lord, You see my brokenness. You see my shame. I come to You in desperation and give them to You. Release me, Lord, from this prison of shame so that it will lose its power over me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
