March 2008

Trading my shame ... for the joy of the Lord

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the one who lifts my head high.
Psalm 3: 3

Right from the time we were born, we go thru different phases of life during which we gain varied experiences, some good, some bad, we gain or lose opportunities, we're happy sometimes and sad and worn out another time. All such experiences result in the kind of person we are.

One major by-product of bad experiences in a person's life is "shame". Yes, I do agree that the person gets sad, but most times the sadness is due to the shame that the person is going thru because of the bad experience.

Some of the possible experiences which can make a person go thru this state of shame include Betrayal, Guilt, Sin, Financial Crisis, Hatred, Mistakes, Crisis in the family or marriage etc.,

When you go thru such a phase of life, have you ever wondered what God is up to? Is he out there to help you? Does he care at all? Or are you trying to face it all alone?

Scores of years back, one of the greatest Kings of Israel by name David also had to go thru a phase of shame and fear. In the book of Psalms in the bible we read that David went to a point where people said that he is totally done and that God will not deliver him from his problem (Read Psalm 3:2). But being a man after God's own heart, he quickly figured out that God was with him as his Shield and Glory (verse 3).

When we go thru shame, we tend to hide away from people simply because we're afraid that they may get to know about our situation and ridicule us or even stay away from us. At times like these we tend to carry on with life with our head hanging down, scared to face people. But my friend, when you go thru such a situation in life, you need to remember that there is a God who can change your situation and give you boldness and courage to face the world if you are willing to do something you need to do. We read in the bible that when we cry out to God He will surely answer our prayers. The bible assures us that the deliverance that we're longing for can come from the Lord, because right from the day God created us, He blessed us with one of His greatest promises saying "I have a plan to prosper you. I have a plan to give you a Hope and a Future" (Read Jeremiah 29:11).

God can change your shameful situation if would lay your burden down at His feet. The bible says that God Himself will be your glory and He can lift your head up and help you face the day. So, why wait holding the shameful feelings in your heart and be tormented by the pain it brings with it? Just drop them at the feet of Jesus and He will see to it that things change for the better in your life and fill you with His everlasting peace and joy.

Have a blessed month !!!

Your friend,
Eshcol