Shame

Shame. It is a terrible feeling. For those of us who have sinned grievously – and, haven’t we all? – we know the extenuating pain of shame: Not only must you live with your deep remorse; but, worse yet is the constant reminder from those around you.

Just when you dare to feel human again, someone unexpectedly sneers at you, shaming and humiliating you, reminding you of the wrong you’ve committed… Stares. Whispers. Some real, some perceived. Most of us wouldn’t risk leaving our homes.

Imagine being a public figure, recognized and mocked by all – actually hated and rejected by the very people you sacrificed everything for. Not only are you innocent, but the very people
hurling insults at you are the actual perpetrators.

Though you have been wrongfully convicted, you take on their punishment for them – the worst beating and punishment ever inflicted. Why? Why would someone even contemplate doing this, let alone actually do it? Because of love. Because you love these people, you take their punishment, without a word.

Jesus. “He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down… He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word” (Isaiah 53:3-7).

I’ll admit, I have experienced a heavy dose of self-pity, while blamed for something I didn’t do, with an inability to clear my name. Yet, who am I to have self-pity when I have sinned plenty along the way… every single, day, having been cleared and saved exponentially more than I deserve. In fact, I am one of the people who put Jesus on the cross.

But here, from the book of Isaiah in the Bible, from true history, we see Jesus who truly did nothing but love, give and heal, having never sinned at all, and He was murdered like a murderer. It’s almost more than I can bare. He did this because of love. While He lost His life, I have only lost money and popularity. I wish I did more because of love and less because of fear, obligation or appearances.

If you are despised or rejected, you are not alone. Jesus knows. He came to earth to feel our pain, to know our pain and to take our pain. Lean into Him. Rest in the shadow of the Lord’s wing. He understands rejection. He bottles your tears. He loves you.
He vindicates you. He removes shame. He replaces beauty for ashes.

Though He was despised and rejected, the pain and punishment He took was for you – for us – to no longer live in loathing, self-pity or pain. He did it so you could rise up, out of the shadow, out of the shame, to experience freedom and victory.

Though you have experienced rejection, you are accepted by and loved by God.