I have been burdened with feelings of shame before. These uninvited senses of remorse over poor choices I had made would haunt my whole being. My energy and emotion would be rendered in attempt to suppress these wretched feelings and regrets. Voices in my head would tell me that I had gone too far, that I had messed up too much, and that I was not worthy of another chance, nor would I ever have one.

I was convinced that I was unredeemable and undesirable, unforgivable and unworthy.

I was overwhelmed with disparaging thoughts that told me that I was just not enough. I questioned how God could even love someone like me, a sinner.

LIES. All lies, and my mind believed every single one. Forget the red flags of evil, I stubbornly and selfishly chose to listen until the lies became a false-truth and dictated my self-perception and perspective, and I was ashamed of who I had become.

Then one day, I read a Psalm that changed my life. My entire outlook brightened, and the more I read it, the more I believed it. I realized that I had been harboring these feelings of shame from past mistakes that I had never once taken to God. I assumed that since I was disappointed in myself, that God would be too. Since I saw myself as unworthy, God must too. I was too wrapped up in this blanket of lies to recognize the sources of evil orchestrating the  shame I felt. I failed to realize that my theory did not align with the character of God displayed throughout His World.

“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” – Psalm 34:22, ESV

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” – Psalm 36:5, ESV

I began to understand that God does not make mistakes. He only offers total forgiveness and unwavering love. There is nothing that I can do that would be too much to disqualify me from His love and forgiveness. I am very worthy to him, very precious and very important in His eyes. He loves me. He forgives me. He does so because he wants to.

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” – Psalm 34:4-5, ESV

Take heart! God loves you and is ready to forgive you too. You are worthy and precious and important to Him as well. The moment you seek Him and ask His forgiveness, you will be showered with this amazing love. God does this not because He has to, but because He wants to. He wants to love you and have a relationship with you.

My redemption through Christ reversed all signs of damage, both visible and invisible. He removed all my shame and replaced it with His unfailing love.

In spa terms: God reversed the signs of aging, exfoliated and removed all the dead cells, and left my skin glowing with radiance. It’s like a heavenly facial!

This heavenly spa is open 24/7/365. Walk-ins are always welcome. No appointment needed. All you must do is seek God. Call to Him, and He will hear you. (Psalm 34:15)

These beautiful words are a prayer of confession from my church service yesterday. Make this prayer your own. Remember we are never too far gone for God’s redemption.

“Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo.

Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a weight too heavy to carry.

Set us free from a past we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us to grow more and more into your likeness and your image.”

ESV = English Standard Version Bible