Blessings to you!
Todays Uplift ~ Don’t let Shame make you Shameful!
“It doesn’t matter how you played. It matters that you did your best.” This is what I told my then 8-year-old grandson, as we talked about his playground experience one day. He was feeling discouraged that he had made several mistakes as he attempted the monkey bars alone for the first time. “Did you do your best?” I asked him. “Yes, I did,” he replied confidently. “Well, then you have nothing to be ashamed of or frustrated about. And regardless, I am and will always be proud of you.” You were very big for trying by yourself!
Parenting often reminds me of how much God loves and protects His children. On those days when I stumble at life and make some big mistakes, He isn’t standing there angry, frustrated and upset that I failed. He isn’t mad at me when I don’t have it all together. His love and favor aren’t based upon my performance nor even any action of mine at all. His word says “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
We are loved, point, blank, period! Not because of who we are (or are not) or what we’ve done (or haven’t done), but because of who He is and what He’s done.
It’s my natural tendency as a grandparent to spend a lot of time being concerned about my grandson wellbeing. I’ve lain awake at night saying to myself: Am I spending enough time with him? Did I have the right tone when I had to tell him no for the 3rd time? Does he feel loved enough? Should I have responded to him like that?
These worries can turn into full-blown anxiety, and I can quickly spiral into a place of beating myself up and feeling so much shame and guilt as his Gi-Gi. Thankfully Jesus doesn’t turn His back on me when I mess up. Instead, He invites me near: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Jesus is whispering to me, “You are free. When I died on that cross, it was for you. It was for your mistakes and your mess-ups. It was so you don’t have to carry around the weight of guilt and shame and feelings of ‘not doing enough.’ Rest in Me. Let Me be adequate where you feel inadequate. Trust Me in the messy, broken spaces. Look to Me when you don’t know how to respond or what the next step is. Lean on Me when you feel overwhelmed.
Stop stressing, worrying, striving and trying so hard. I came to give you life and hope and joy. Rest in Me. You are free!” This freedom and truly understanding it and living out of it – has completely changed my life. I don’t have to live in shame, guilt or the desire to impress others.
I don’t know where you are at today or what you might be struggling with, but I know this: Jesus is offering this freedom to you as well. You don’t have to carry around the weight of trying to be enough or do enough. You don’t have to try harder, be more, do more or prove your worth to attain God’s love.
In Christ, you are redeemed, chosen, forgiven and loved. You can rest in Christ’s amazing love for you — even on those days when you fail, fall and make mistakes.
Overcomer, our Heavenly Father loves us even when we mess up and make mistakes. Lord help us to rest in Your love, and let us be so filled up by Your love that it spills out to everyone who bumps into us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Be Optimistic; Be Open Minded; Be an Over comer!!
Love Min. P.