A BLANKET OF SHAME

Lisa couldn’t sleep.  It was the middle of the night, but she kept thinking about the hurtful comments she heard earlier that day at a Fresh Start seminar in East Asia.  Several people criticized her for being so transparent when she shared her testimony about how God was working in her marriage relationship.

“You’re not honoring your husband!”

“A wife shouldn’t talk about her marriage like that!”

“That’s not how we do things in our culture.” 

“You’re bringing shame to your family!”

So she tossed and turned, the condemning words echoing in her head.  Lisa felt as if she had a blanket covering her head, with the word “SHAME” written over her forehead.  The verbal attacks seemed to grow louder and stronger.  She felt condemned to be stoned, as in biblical times.

Suddenly, Lisa saw a picture of Jesus coming to her, in the midst of the angry, accusing voices.  Gently and lovingly, He removed the blanket of shame from her head.  She recalled Jesus’ words to the woman caught in adultery who was going to be stoned.  “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? …Neither do I condemn you.” (John 8:10-11)

The next morning there was radiant joy on Lisa’s face when she shared her experience with the Fresh Start team.  “I realized I was giving too much power to others to judge me,” she explained.  “There is only one Judge – Jesus!  I don’t need to defend myself or fight back against others’ accusations.  Jesus is my Advocate, and He’s taken my shame away!”

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” (Psalm 34:4-5)

Going vertical!

MJ