Shame is a painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness, or disgrace. This feeling may bring dishonor, disgrace, or condemnation.
Have you ever felt this way? Has a certain situation ever made you feel like you weren't worthy? Have you ever felt so embarrassed that you told yourself that it was pointless to go on? Has this emotion set in motion or given birth to anger, shyness or anxiety in your life?
Almost everyone has felt like this at least at one point in time but we should not let this feeling stay! We have no reason to let guilt reign in our lives! Why? Because God will CHANGE your situation!
Take this into consideration:
Back in Israel, during the times of the New Testament, a woman's value was largely measured by her ability to bear children, to be without children often led to personal hardship and public shame. This was the case for Elizabeth and Zechariah. They were both old and and came from priestly families. One would believe that because of this, they would have God's favor but it did not seem that way. Then one day, Zechariah received an unexpected blessing! He was chosen to be the priest who would enter the Holy Place to offer incense to God for the people. Suddenly, he found himself face to face with an angel bearing a message that Zachariah and his wife would have a son (John The Baptist). The angel's message was too good to be true! Things worked out better than she had ever hoped!
Luke 1:25 - “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days He has shown His favor and taken away my disgrace among the people."
Let us move in reverse...
Before Zechariah and Elizabeth, there was Rachel. Her story is another tale of a sterile woman but unlike Elizabeth, she felt the need to compete for Jacob's love even though she already had it because of her lack of children. But in Genesis 30:22-23, God eventually answered Rachel's prayers and gave her a child of her own.
Genesis 30:22-23 “Then God remembered Rachel; He listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son and said, “God has taken away my disgrace."
And lastly, let’s talk about Job. Job was a wealthy man of upright character who loved God. Yet God allows Satan to destroy Job’s flock, his possessions, his children, and his health. Job refused to give up on God, even though he did not know or understand why everything that happened to him was taking place. And I bet you can guess what happened after all that…God changed Job’s situation!
Job 19:25-27 “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see Him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Regardless of your situation…
Whether you are sterile…there is a God that will change your situation!
Whether you are on the brink of poverty…there is a God that will change your situation!
Whether you are sick…there is a God that will change your situation!
Whether you are going through depression…there is a God that will change your situation!
People will say that you were “this" or “that" yesterday and that you are the same today but God is the one who will have the last word!
Whether you are going through something that is unbearable…there is a God that will change your situation! Even if you do not see the results right away, you can have faith because God is the master of time and circumstances! Everything that man has said, has thought and taken you for, does not matter. When the world has counted you out, and said that you are “finished”, it is not over! So do not be afraid to tell people who you were yesterday because when God changes your situation, He will do it so that the ones who knew you before can hardly recognize you now! All the time that you spent being ashamed because of the things you have done, will not come back but things will get better.
Isaiah 61:7 - “Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs."
God is not human that He should lie (Numbers 23:19)! God has not forgotten you, regardless of what you were or are. God will take care of you. He will handle your situation. Trust Him and believe! He is not a genie (let us not make this mistake) but He listens to the prayers of His children! Although we go through difficult times or situations, we can call upon Him in confidence that a change will take place! Surely God could take care of our needs without our asking. But when we ask, we are acknowledging that He alone is God and that we cannot accomplish in out own strength all that is His domain to do. When we ask, we must humble ourselves and lay aside our worries because He is the situation changer. We should not despair because we have God’s presence, the privilege of prayer, and God’s grace! God can be sought and found when we seek Him wholeheartedly. There is no situation or thing that can make Him love us less or that can break that communion! If He did it before, He can and will do it again! Stay blessed and in faith!
(Devotions/ Devotionals)
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