His Grace For My Shame

I did it again…

You know, that thing I said I wouldn’t do, those words I said I wouldn’t say, that place I said I wouldn’t go. Yes, that one.

Sometimes I feel like I’m doing so well living life the way Jesus wants me to live. Other times those old comfortable habits are so inviting and I fall right back into failure. 

But Jesus repeatedly asks us to come to Him without shame.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28

Jesus never told us to get rid of our burdens before we come. He knows what we carry. He’s not afraid of it. He doesn’t think it’s too much. He doesn’t think we’re too much…or not enough. He doesn’t tell us to work harder, or stop complaining, or just have more faith. He doesn’t snap His fingers and make it disappear, He does something much harder. He walks into it with us, does the heavy lifting, and heals our pain. He tells us to come, and He promises rest.

My shame is no match for His grace. His promises far outweigh my shortcomings.

My shame tells me to give up, I’ve gone too far this time, I can never change.

My shame tells me I should be able to overcome this thing on my own.

My shame tells me I am unacceptable and unlovable.

My shame is a blatant lie from the enemy.

His grace promises to exchange my sorrow for joy.

His grace promises to lift me up when I humble myself.

His grace offers me countless second chances to try to get it right. 

His grace showers me with unending forgiveness when I mess up again and again.

His grace is the Truth!

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1

Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that when we belong to Jesus, when we’ve accepted His gifts of mercy and love, our shame is washed away. 

He has exchanged our shame for His grace. 

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No. Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”  John 8:10-11

In John 8 we read about a woman caught in adultery and brought before Jesus. The current law of the time said that her penalty was to be stoned. Jesus has a different thought. He suggests that the person who has never sinned should throw the first stone.

Jesus is the only person in history who never sinned…and He didn’t throw anything.

He exchanged her shame for His grace, and told her to go try again to get it right.

In John 4 we read the story of the woman at the well. She had so many strikes against her–Samaritan, bad reputation, married 5 times, living with a man who wasn’t her husband. Everyone else had let her know how much shame she covered her. Jesus saw her, talked to her, offered her living water, revealed to her that He was the Messiah.

He exchanged her shame for His grace, and she was transformed into an evangelist.

We read stories of Jesus sitting with Zaccheus and with Matthew–both despised tax collectors who were taking advantage of their own people.

He exchanged their shame for His grace, and they changed their ways.

Mary Magdalene came from a questionable past and ended up in Jesus’ inner circle.

Paul was the worst of the worst (when his name was still Saul), persecuting and killing Christians in the early church. He encountered Jesus and his letters became a significant part of the New Testament, guiding and instructing us still today.

Even those with the heaviest sins and burdens weighing them down are accepted, chosen, and used by Him when they allow Him access to work through them.

Your shame is no longer relevant.

His grace is ready for you. 

Are you ready to accept it?