Like many people with a guilt-inclined personality, accepting that the gospel is good news for me hasn’t come easy. Having grown up in the church, I knew the story, but could always think of why I might be exempt from sharing the joy of the gospel. I would worry about Jesus’ future separation between true and false believers (Matthew 25:31-46), troubled by the thought that even people who profess faith can be lost. I was haunted by the passage about the unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:30-32), wondering if perhaps I could push God too far away to return to Him. Christ coming again is supposed to be the best kind of news, but I sometimes wondered for how many people it would feel that way.
Those emotions are difficult to be rid of, and there are still days I feel them return. On those discouraging days, John 3 is one of those passages through which God gently stops my tide of fear and shame and draws me to rest in Him. Jesus said, “God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 3:17). To a world already in a state of judgment and brokenness, Jesus was entirely a gift, sent from a God who loves His creation and longs for all to share in His eternal, abundant, overflowing life (John 3:15, 4:14). Although God must someday judge to restore justice in His world, this judgment is a consequence of rejecting the only solution: seeing the pure, self-giving love of Jesus and still turning away (John 3:18).
So on those days when the voices of guilt and shame keep you from believing in God’s love for you, come back to the solid foundation—that He is good, that He is love, and that in Christ life abundant and unending is freely available to all who are hungry for it (John 6:35)—even you.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 14:13-36
More:
Read Romans 8:1-11 to see how Christ’s Spirit enables us to live free from the condemnation and suffering sin leads to outside of Christ.
Next:
Is there anything in your past or present that makes you secretly wonder if you’re beyond God’s love and forgiveness? What steps can you take to release your shame and rest in His love?
jjw2855 on July 17, 2017 at 1:14 am
Hi Monica,
So I am not the only one with those emotional seesaws of questions that pester me. Thank you for sharing your story. You have brought out an interesting and important aspect of the Christian faith. Before I came to Christ, I used to think of god as an angry and unapproachable being. I was brought up in a non-Christian home with idol worships. I was taught, to approach god, one has to purify oneself and bring offerings to appease those idols. But God’s word says in Isaiah 66: 2, “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” God does not want our offerings and sacrifices, but to repent and come to Him through Christ.
Later, as a Christian, sometimes I too used to be haunted by the passage in Matthew 12: 30 to 32 about unforgivable sins. I shared it with a friend, who then reminded me of what Jesus said in John 6: 37-40, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away… And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
So as it says in Romans 8: 1 & 2 reads, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” When doubt enters my heart, I take it to the Lord in prayer who calms my heart. I have learned to sing, like it says in the hymn.
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
Refrain:
But “I know Whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.”
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
By Daniel W. Whittle, pub.1883
Monica Brands on July 17, 2017 at 8:24 am
Thanks so much for sharing, jjw2855. I love the phrase “emotional seesaws of questions” — story of my life :). Having questions is valid and good, but when the questions distract from or make me doubt the core truths of the gospel, it’s time to come back and find peace and security in Him first. I really appreciate you bringing in those powerful passages and that wonderful hymn.
Gary Shultz on July 17, 2017 at 6:03 am
Hi Monica: I do believe we as humans were given emotions as a gift, as something that distinguishes us from any other creature. Many of our “gifts” as human are like that; however, it seems that balancing those things is not a strong suite for many. So, I had to learn to control, or lay emotions aside and “stand on the promises”. I will never forget some of the shameful things I have done in my life, but I do know that God can and has done that. He understand our humanness, yet despising the sin, He, because of Christ, can extend love. God is doing the heavy reaching here, why should we recoil from this pure searching love. As in the scripture passage you choose we don’t want to be found out, and God says let’s get it out, and I am able to deal with it. So, that old shame lost, it’s power to defeat me won. I clinch tightly the promise of God, and the guilt, shame and doubt is soon replaced by the Spirit of God’s grace, causing gratitude, and praise. Thanks Monica
Monica Brands on July 17, 2017 at 9:14 am
Thanks for this powerful testimony, Gary. I appreciate your honesty–I think one of the things that feeds into shame is this sense of being the only one who is “broken” in this way. When people like you are honest enough to say they understand the pain of shame-filled memories and carry that fear too, yet still believe in the God who persistently reaches out to us, it can open others to believing the good news too. Thanks Gary.
alipat59 on July 17, 2017 at 6:09 am
Oh wow so needed to read this, this has been a daily struggle for me, feeling to bad for God
Monica Brands on July 17, 2017 at 9:09 am
Hi alipat59, I’m so glad this was helpful for you. A concept I’ve found helpful is the difference between shame and guilt–guilt is feeling appropriate sadness and regret over things we’ve done wrong; shame is a feeling or fear that there’s something so wrong with us we can’t be loved. We can learn and grow from moments of guilt, but if we’re trapped in shame, there is no way to heal because we don’t think it’s possible, we aren’t open to the possibility of healing. We need the courage to bring, not only our guilt to our God for forgiveness, but our sense of shame for healing and the reassurance that in Him we truly have a new and shame-free identity. I’m so thankful for how often the Bible describes God reaching out to embrace those trapped in shame with His love even before they believe it’s possible.
godlove on July 17, 2017 at 11:55 am
Same as alipat59 this has been a very timely message for me too. Monica, thank you for further insight on the difference between shame and guilt in the context of our daily walk with Christ. How not to feel ashamed when the Holy Spirit convicts us of sin, though? But like Tom says, His love is truly greater than our guilt and shame. Knowing this should give me courage to forge ahead with the faith that I’m “work in progress” and not to be held back by guilt or shame.
Monica Brands on July 17, 2017 at 1:06 pm
Thanks godlove . . . I heard the other day that the feeling of shame is universal; the only people who don’t feel it are sociopaths! So, it’s a good thing that we’re capable of shame – the feeling can be a valuable check – it can remind us who God made us to be and keep us from continuing down self (and other)-destructive paths. It’s a problem when we live there, instead of bringing our feelings of shame to God and others for healing.
Like many other things, I find thinking about kids so helpful to understand how to deal with shame in our lives. Kids feel it too, and it’s painful — but if they have a parent they love and trust, they will run to them and cry out their guilt and shame. And a loving parent will hold them and show them they are still completely and unconditionally loved, and how to work through their feelings.
Adults need this just as much as kids, but there’s often not many places to turn with the pain of shame (or trauma or lots of other forms of pain), which is part of why I’d encourage anyone who’s struggling with this to find if possible the support of a professional faith-based counselor–a counselor is trained to hear hard stories in a safe and confidential way while pointing to hope. And always, although it can be difficult, working to find safe people and places where together we can help bring what is hidden and feels hopeless into the open and begin the road to healing.
Grace and peace to you today, godlove.
Tom Felten on July 17, 2017 at 10:19 am
Monica, thanks for these honest, powerful words. Praise God that He reveals His grace to us even in our doubts and questions. His love is greater than our guilt and shame.
envirotact on July 17, 2017 at 10:11 am
Quoting Charles Spurgeon, “The blood is my boast and my song”.
EricRiggz on July 17, 2017 at 10:36 am
Thank you for taking te time to share your feelings. This has edified my spirit.
Monica Brands on July 17, 2017 at 1:11 pm
Glad to hear this, Eric, blessings to you today.
always blessed on July 17, 2017 at 2:39 pm
What inspiration and encouragement here today. Wow!!. I was sharing with my co-worker about the jacket I’m wearing. The iron burnt it on the lining inside but it doesn’t affect anything on the outside. I looks beautiful and perfect. She couldn’t know this unless I told her that. So I shared with her that that’s how some of us are and only God knows as His word says He looks at the heart while man only sees the outside.
But it is great to know that we can go to Him regardless of shame or guilt for He already knows. He just waits for our confession. Thanks for all who shared.
Monica Brands on July 17, 2017 at 2:58 pm
That’s a great analogy, alwaysblessed. I once heard a similar comparison, how we tend to compare “our inside with someone else’s outside” and then feel bad about ourselves, as if we’re the only ones struggling so much. Once you form deeper relationships, though, you realize all of us struggle with the same things, and we all need to open up for hope and healing.
i trust jesus on July 17, 2017 at 7:52 pm
I’m at a loss…most days I totally blow it. Even after prayer devos and all, but today was different, I went off on a coworker. But then apologized and have been praying since. Thank you for your sharing. God opened my eyes yesterday to how fleeting our lives are,(fatality on the road) I want to be sure my name is in His Book.
street on July 17, 2017 at 9:33 pm
How. Much more will the blood of Christ clean our fall hearts and minds from sin! Restored to fellowship with God! Enjoy! A soul takes time to grow and conform to Jesus. He finishes everything He starts.
hsnpoor on July 17, 2017 at 9:34 pm
Oh my goodness! Monica, I am so glad I checked in today! I have to go back and look at your 1st offering on 7/1/17 too. This devotion was wonderfully powerful in it’s accessibility and on target hits on doubts and weaknesses that assail us all, along with great counsel on how to counter the attacks! Clearly, I’ve been MIA here and my spirit has suffered the consequences. You are a great motivation to get me back “in the groove” again. Thank you so much for this really wonderful reminder of who we truly are in Christ Jesus! Bless you!