Have You Given Your Shame to Jesus?

“Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion; instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot; therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion; they shall have everlasting joy.”—Isaiah 61:7

There’s a difference between feeling shame and being ruled by it. Shame can be a signal that something’s wrong—but it was never meant to be a sentence you serve for life. When you sin, shame shows up. But when you trust Jesus, shame gets put to death. The cross wasn’t just where He took your sin—it’s where He crushed your shame. You don’t have to keep dragging it around. Let grace do the heavy lifting and carry what your soul was never meant to hold. Freedom starts when you hand your shame to the One who already carried it.

This is why understanding the role of shame matters. Shame exists where there is sin, so feeling ashamed, particularly when we sin, is natural and healthy. However, that shame caused by sin needs to be dealt with. On the cross, Jesus took both your sin and shame, so now you do not need to continue in sin or carry your shame. These facts are life-changing if believed in faith. They shift how we see ourselves and how we walk in the world.

And when life gets hard, don’t forget the big picture. To keep our tough seasons and suffering in perspective, we are reminded that we have it pretty easy compared to Christians who have been martyred: “…you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” (Hebrews 12:4) Like a father applying a little “tough love” to a complaining child, we are told to keep our rough days in perspective and not stop running the race God has called us to.

Tough days come—but they don’t give you a pass to quit. You haven’t bled for your faith—so don’t bail when it’s just a bad day. God’s not punishing you; He’s parenting you. Keep going. Keep growing. And when shame tries to chain you up again, remember the cross broke every link. You’re free to run. So run like it matters—because it does.

When life gets hard, what’s one way you can shift your focus from the pain you’re feeling to the victory Jesus has already won for you?

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