Shame Stopper

Although psychologists have found links between shame and eating disorders, addiction, violence, bullying, aggression, and depression, they also offer hope. It turns out that speaking about our shame and differentiating it from our guilt are powerful ways to reduce its destructive power.

The Bible says something similar, but it provides a much more definite and permanent solution to shame. First, the Bible shows that our tendency to sin is the result of sin: “Just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

While we may sometimes feel shame even though we didn’t do anything wrong, the usual source of our shame, or the feeling that we are flawed, is the breaking of God’s law. But we know that God’s plan to permanently remove all sin from our lives will also eradicate all of our shame. (See Philippians 3:19.)

Furthermore, even if we have committed sin and feel guilty because of it, we can rejoice that we are not alone in this struggle. Jesus assures us, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Sin in our lives can be defeated only when we seek to obey God by being in union with Him and not by our own power.

Abiding in Jesus includes the privilege to pray to Him, verbalizing our discouragement with who we think we are. In these moments, we can also remember that He does not condemn us. Additionally, even when we have wronged Him through our actions, we can run to Him for help in resisting the next temptation. The fact that sin has infected all humans means that everyone we know is facing the same challenge and has the same offer of hope from God.

Apply It:

Tell God about your struggle with shame.

Dig Deeper:

Genesis 3:14; Jeremiah 17:9; Ephesians 2:3

Key Bible Texts

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8 KJV)