“End this disgrace!”
What comes to your mind when you think of shame?
Shame is a feeling of pain or humiliation brought on by people or situations that are beyond our control. Our foolish behavior can also bring on shame. When we do not address the shame we feel, our shame works against us, and is potentially one of the most damaging feelings we can experience.
Shame is heavy and isolating, subtly forcing our shoulders to cave forward and our countenance to be less bright. These are the very reasons we avoid, stuff, and ignore feelings of shame. Yet feelings are messages, and by refusing to acknowledge the message, we miss the opportunity for God to transform our shame into something beautiful.
Is there healing for our shame?
In the ancient world, a city’s walls were symbolic of honor. If a city’s walls were unkept or falling apart, the city’s honor crumbled with the wall. Israel had been ravaged by war, and the walls framing the City of God, Jerusalem, were evidence of a war-torn land.
“But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” (Nehemiah 2:17, NLT, bold added for emphasis.)
The Hebrew word for disgrace means reproach or resting on a condition of shame. The wall symbolized the shame of Israel. Their disobedience brought consequences that left the people scattered, enslaved, and falling apart.
Our shame is not to define us, though. God does not intend for us to drown in, be covered up with, or be stuck in our shame. He has plans for us, and they are good plans, not disastrous. Like the wall of Jerusalem, God, through Christ, wants to rebuild our inner identity, restoring our honor and worth.
While Christ is the One who does the restoring, like Nehemiah and the Israelites, we are invited to be a part of the process.
Nehemiah illustrates for us:
- Prayer is our covering. Nehemiah started with prayer and continued to pray throughout the entire restoration process. (Nehemiah 1:4, 11; 2:4; 4:4,9; 6:14)
- Honesty is our gateway. Nehemiah was honest with God about his feelings. While he was afraid to share with the king, he was truthful about his feelings, and God used his honesty to touch the king’s heart. We see Nehemiah being candid with the Jewish officials. Sharing our sadness and being honest with God and others opens us up to begin the healing process. (Nehemiah 2:2-3)
- Introspection is our architectural plan. Nehemiah took time to inspect the wall’s damage and devise a plan of where to start. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to search our innermost parts and allow Him to speak to the broken, shame-filled parts of our inner being. God will show us His plan. (Nehemiah 2:12-15)
- Receptivity is our equipment. Nehemiah asked for several things. The king gave him everything he asked for, plus “officers of the army and horsemen” (Nehemiah 2:9). We need to be open to how God may choose to heal us, provide restoration, and the help we need. As we receive help, we also need to be willing to use what God gives us and begin the work. “So they began the good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).
- Praise is our honor. Nehemiah gave God full credit, “I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me” (Nehemiah 2:18, NASB). God is always at work on our behalf. As the healing process begins, one of the fantastic occurrences will be our spiritual insight to see where God has already been at work and how He is at work now. When we are given the opportunity, we need to give witness to His work in our lives. Praising and giving credit to God is an honor.
Nehemiah’s ability to “nail it” can be attributed to his unwavering faith in God. God used him to begin the healing process of restoring Jerusalem’s honor.
Through the Holy Spirit’s masterful work in us, we will begin to hold our shoulders back, and a brightness will return to our face. Shame will lose its hold on our lives, and honor will take shame’s place, and we will step into who we were truly created to be.
I pray that you will allow God to look into the dark, hidden places of your inner life and allow Him to shine His Light, to bring life to those dark places, and you will experience the fullness of the goodness of God in your life. May you walk in freedom and honor all the days of your life, giving credit to God along the way. In Jesus’ name, so be it.
Meditate: Jesus took my shame.
Reflect: How can shame hold us from being all God has called us to be? Ask God to show you places where shame is hiding in your life. Give the shame back and ask God to heal and restore you. What does a life without shame or fear of being shamed look like to you?
Deeper: (As you read through these additional verses, ask the Spirit to give you wisdom, and teach you more about Him taking your shame.) Nehemiah 2:1-18; Joshua 5:2-12; Isaiah 25:7-9 (NIV)
For further encouragement, listen to the PODCAST on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Google, IHeartRadio, and Podbean. Search God’s Word Gives Hope. LISTEN NOW
Receive Hope Every Week with Janae’s Thrive Newsletter, blog link included – Subscribe here
JSC Life & Leadership Coaching – I believe God has created each of us to thrive. Where are you not thriving? Work? Home? Life? Let me coach you. Contact me to schedule a consultation, and let’s get you moving forward. Contact Janae
Did you know you can follow God’s Word Gives Hope on Facebook and Instagram and be encouraged throughout the week?
(Bible References: NLT – New Living Translation, NASB – New American Standard Bible, NIV – New International Version)
#GodsWordGivesHope
#Hope #Bible #christianity
#NailedIt #Nehemiah
#christianitytoday
#JSCLifeandLeadershipCoaching
