Feelings of “unworthiness”…of “NOT deserving attention” or “respect…”
OUCH!!
Self worth, self esteem “plummeted?” “In the basement?” “Going south?”
Never quite “measuring up?”
What is going on…here?
People “feeling or thinking” that they are NOT GOOD ENOUGH, nor will they “EVER be!”
Yikes!
Where does this stuff come from? And more importantly, WHY does it linger SO LONG?
I know that “self confidence” and “self image” have A LOT to do with these “negative, hurtful, harmful thoughts…”
And OH, the judgment…just “whom” is judging “whom?” Isn’t it YOU, aren’t YOU the worst offender here? Why are YOU so hard on yourself?
Sometimes I hear people talking about “expressions of shame.” Most of us, IF not all of us, probably heard those “awful words” directed at us as a child.
“SHAME on you.” “What did YOU do, NOW?”
The feelings associated with “shame” and shaming are” horrendous” or can be.
They are “devastating” words “to hear…”
Just hearing the word “SHAME” conjures up all kinds of images in one’s head.
“You are despicable.”
“You are contemptible.”
“You are unforgiveable.”
“You are reprehensible.”
“You are inexcusable.”
“You are just bad!” Sinner!
“Unworthy!” “Unloved!” Despised!
Thoughts and feelings of being “dirty” or “unclean”…socially unacceptable…
So many people carry such “awful loads” with them…and on a daily basis.
Now throw “religion” into the fray…and you have a very lethal, icky, combination.
I remember in Second Grade talking in class, so I was hauled up front and forced to “eat a crayon” in front of the entire class for talking…Talk about humiliation! Yep!
And there was no “spitting it out, either!” I had to swallow it. Yum! For the remainder of “that year,” I was forever known as the “kid who HAD to eat the crayon.”
After that, no one else “dared to talk out of turn” or “while the teacher was talking.” Lesson learned.
But the “humiliation” lasts “a lifetime.”
Another time, I was caught chewing gum in school, so I had to sit for the remainder of the class with the gum on my nose…and if it fell off, you had to pick it up and put it back on your nose again. But that time it was ok, I was like the class clown anyway!
When you add in God… to all of this… it now takes on a REAL SERIOUS dimension.
Now you are “offensive” to the ALMIGHTY! Now all of a sudden, you are “unworthy for all eternity.”
Just where is this stuff taught? And yet, I am well – aware that people CARRY all kinds of “horrific and icky stuff” with them! (Personal baggage we call it!)
People expect NO GOOD NEWS from the church EVER. Only “do’s” and “don’ts” with a lot “shalt nots” thrown in for good measure.
So hear this message from the gospel of Luke LOUDLY and CLEARLY. No ifs, ands or buts. No thou shalt nots! No nothing…
“DO NOT BE AFRAID, LITTLE FLOCK, FOR IT IS YOUR FATHER’S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.”
God wants. God desires. God wills. God is pleased to give YOU the kingdom.
No hoops to jump through.
No signing in blood.
No small print to try and read. Big, Bold Letters…only!
God wants you with him FOR ALL ETERNITY. He loves you UNCONDITIONALLY. YOU belong to him!
You are forgiven. You are loved. You are held in HIGH ESTEEM. You are his. You always have…been…
So where is there shame? It is eradicated! It is gone. It is NO MORE.
All those thoughts of “inadequacy” or of “not measuring up,” forget them. GOD LOVES YOU! You belong to HIM.
Dwell in that love. Bask in that love. Believe in that love. The scripture is clear on this – God IS love.
And he desires YOU to be with HIM throughout all eternity.
Amen.