Category: Shame

on • Tori Hope Peterson

My track coach was told to wash his hands of me because I was “trouble.” But, despite what people told him, he continued to meet me at the track daily and train with me. I love the story of the woman at the well, because it reflects how my track coach came alongside me, and it also it shows us how Jesus treats those who are cast out.

When the world has set limitations on who we can befriend, Jesus shows us exactly what to do by reaching out to them anyway.

In John 4, Jesus met a Samaritan woman at the village well and shared the gospel with her. The cultural limitation said Jews could not speak to Samaritans. That meant an entire population could potentially be unreached by Jesus’ life.

So what did Jesus do? He disregarded culture’s limitations. And he met this woman where she was and told her about the never-ending, life-giving water – the truth of the gospel.

But the interesting thing is that Jesus did not go to the woman at the well with his disciples. Instead, verse eight shows his disciples had gone into the town to buy food.

Why would he not take his disciples and use this as a teaching moment? Why wouldn’t he have brought more people to the woman with hopes of helping her be seen and known and loved by more? The more, the merrier it seems.

So why did Jesus go alone?

Because even the people closest to Jesus, taking in his every word, being taught by him, and tangibly being loved by him, would have focused on the limitations of the culture. They would have pulled Jesus away from meeting the Samaritan woman, so Jesus shielded her from them.

Jesus went to the woman no one else would go to and met her where she was. He did not say, “You meet me here.” He went to her.

He met her there and changed her life.

Those people in my hometown were advising my track coach to stay away from me. But he kept showing up where I was— the track. It was one of the only places I was allowed to go, and his ongoing mentorship changed the trajectory of my life.

During this holiday season, I ask you these questions:

  • Where would you like Jesus to meet you right now?
  • Who is God asking you to make a difference in their life?
  • Who could you reach out to that you typically pass by?

*For further reflection, listen to John 4 today.

on • Civilla Morgan

Have you ever wanted something so badly you would do anything to get it? If you are old enough to remember the eighties, you may remember some television shows that dared people to do crazy things for big money. And they did! But right now, that ‘thing’ you really want? There is not enough money in the world that can buy it for you. There is no game show you can get onto that will help you win it.

Until along comes an extraordinary man who can give you this ‘thing.’

‘Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.’ (Mark 3:1). He notices your hand! He can give you anything you want, and he doesn’t want your money! But there is a glitch. People are watching, and some influential leaders are in the audience.

On top of this, today is the Sabbath! Work is forbidden on the Sabbath, including healing someone to make them whole.

“Then he [Jesus] turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.’ (v.4).

Here you stand. You realize that to receive this gift, you would have to accept it in front of these people. ‘Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” (v.3)

What do you do? Stand in front of everyone and suffer the consequences? Or do you continue to suffer in silence?

That’s what the man with the withered hand had to decide.

Fortunately for him, he decided he wanted healing more than he feared the opinion of the leaders. So when Jesus called him, he went to him. He had lived his entire life without the use of this hand.

The man vulnerably stood in front of Jesus. ‘Then he [Jesus] said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So, the man held out his hand, and it was restored!’ (v.5).

Jesus wants our restoration and wholeness for us even to the point of dying on the cross to give us that wholeness.

We need only to stand in front of him and hold our hand to receive it.

*For deeper reflection, listen to Mark 3 today.

on • Heather Thompson Day

Why does God sometimes answer us immediately, and other times, we pray and pray and see nothing for months or even years?

There are two things about God and prayer I find to be helpful to remember. The first is found in Daniel 9:23. It says, “The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God.”

Sometimes we pray, and immediately a command goes out, and God places the answer to our prayer in our lives. Immediately God responds.

But there is a second example we find in the very next chapter, Daniel 10:12-13. The second prayer we see Daniel pray, is not answered immediately, and it’s interesting to read the reason.

Then he said, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come to answer your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way.”

This verse is super important to understanding how prayer works, or, as it sometimes seems, is not working. Bible commentator Charles Ellicott says of this exchange:

Perhaps no single verse in the whole of the Scriptures speaks more clearly than this upon the invisible powers which rule and influence nations… From this chapter we not only learn that Israel had a spiritual champion (Daniel 10:21) to protect her in her national life, and to watch over her interests, but also that the powers opposed to Israel had their princes, or saviors, which were antagonists of those which watched over Israel. The “princes” of the heathen powers are devils, according to 1 Corinthians 10:201

In Daniel chapter nine, we see God answer immediately, and in Daniel chapter 10, we see Daniel’s answer is delayed due to the intervention of evil supernatural influences in the region at that time.

What is important to note is that both times, Daniel is loved by God.

A delay in this instance is not brought on by Daniel himself, but rather, is a reaction to the organization of demonic spirits in the supernatural realm.

Sometimes, it is not your turn, and it is also not your fault.

There is a real devil, and a real army of evil constantly organizing to delay your promise. So, we must learn as believers how to pray thoroughly.

Prayer is not a one size fits all experience, and God will answer and respond to you differently season by season.

But prayer does matter, and prayer does change things, and prayer does change us.

*For deeper reflection, listen to Daniel 10 today.

~ Excerpt from It’s Not Your Turn by Heather Thompson Day

1 By various writers. Edited by Charles John Ellicott, An Old Testament commentary for English readers, Charles Ellicott & Bible. Old Testament. English. Authorized. (London: Cassell, Petter & Galpin, 1882). https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/daniel/10.htm.

on • Dayle Rogers

They’re called mother-in-law’s tongue, a green plant that flourishes in Florida. I’ve found it is something I really can’t kill. My lack of gardening skills has been the death sentence for so many beautiful plants, herbs, and flowers. This plant has thrived.

It has grown so much that the root system cracked the side of the terracotta pot. The longer I leave it, the wider the crack gets. Water gushes from the side, spreading dirt on the ground.

And yet it still thrives.

The broken pot is a reminder that something is no longer working. Brokenness, in general, is a reflection that the current reality is no longer good. Brokenness encompasses every area of life—things, people, ideas, attitudes, and relationships.

Just like my pot, brokenness in people can reveal things that we often don’t want to be seen by others. Inner pain drives our actions in ways that aren’t our usual behavior, displaying our unmet needs.

About a year ago, I went through a period where I felt like I bottomed out. COVID and the accompanying isolation played a lot into it. Zoom meetings gave me headaches. I’m an extrovert. Seclusion wasn’t working for me. Interestingly, the longer I was alone, the more I withdrew from others. I became non-communicative and sullen. When several of my children pointed out my behavior, I felt real shame.

That was not who I was.

Life tends to wear us down. But being broken by circumstances does not need to destroy us. When King David was struggling, he felt despair and hopelessness. But God.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.” Psalm 34:18

David understood that God was on his side, ready to strengthen him, strong enough to support him no matter how extreme his troubles. When I was condemning myself for how I’d been acting, I remembered that God did not condemn me.

“I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Psalm 40:1-2

We’re all broken pots, leaking the pain of our hearts in places we don’t choose.

But God finds beauty in our brokenness.

For deeper reflection, listen to Psalm 40 today.

on • Amy Carroll

When we know we need to change, we need a mindset reset. We need to shift from a “fixed mindset” – where life is only a “pass or fail” – to a “growth mindset” that values learning from failure. Why?

Because embedded in the “growth mindset” is the concept of grace. You are not a disappointment to God or a hopeless case. Knowing that you are not perfect, but constantly growing, is a big exhale of relief.

Peter Denies Jesus

But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. At that moment, the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. (Luke 22:60-62)

As I studied this story, I started wondering about Jesus’ face when he looked at Peter. I know how I might look if someone treated me the way Peter treated Jesus. The look on my face would be disappointment, disgust, or betrayal.

Thankfully, Jesus is not like me. Because he is always true to His own character, we know the look on Jesus’ face as He looked at Peter.

He gazed at Peter with love.

Jesus looked at Peter with love and grace when Peter was at his lowest point – the moment of his greatest failure.

Jesus looks at you and me with love and grace when we are at our weakest, most exhausted state. He sees our failures— every single one— that have led to our empty life and our reduced sense of self. Jesus knows them fully while reaching out to us with the boundless grace we need to step into real change.

He stands ready with a Redemptive Flip when we have already blown it. Every single time, he welcomes us back with grace and love just like he did for Peter. For Peter’s story did not end there. One of my favorite passages in all of Scripture is in the last chapter of John, where Jesus redeems Peter’s denial.

To summarize, Peter denies Jesus. Jesus looks at Peter with love. Jesus is crucified. Jesus is resurrected. In his grief, Peter goes fishing.

Suddenly, Peter sees a man on the shore. He flings himself out of the boat towards Jesus. In that moment, Peter turns away from his denials into the love and grace of Jesus. Peter’s glorious story encourages us too.

When we turn to embrace grace to live our one life well, Jesus is there looking at us with love.

*For deeper reflection, listen to Luke 22 today.

on • Sharon Jaynes

Did you know that some of Jesus’ closest followers were women? Mary Magdalene, from whom he cast out seven demons, was the first person to witness his resurrection!

You can watch Magdalena, the true story of Jesus told through Mary’s eyes and see how Jesus treated the women of his day.

I hope you enjoy the retelling of the life and ministry of Jesus through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. As you watch the film, you will see that in the beginning Eve was the crowning touch and grand finale of God’s creative masterpiece – fashioned to complete the picture of mankind created in the image of God.

When Jesus entered the world on that starry night in Bethlehem, his first cry echoed the heart cries of women through the centuries. Women led secluded lives. They were not allowed to talk to men in public, testify in court or mingle with men at social gatherings.

They were uneducated, unappreciated, and segregated in the social and religious life of their communities. Jesus saw women hidden in the shadows behind lock and kay and flung the doors open wide with the truth to restore what was lost in the Garden of Eden. With honor and respect, Jesus healed women spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

It is easy for us twenty-first-century readers to view Jesus’ interaction with women as somewhat ordinary, but it was radical in every sense of the word.

He spoke to women publicly, taught them openly, ate with them freely, and treated them respectfully. In a culture that kept women tucked away in the recesses of the home to be neither seen nor heard, Jesus pulled them from behind the scenes, positioned them front and center, and shone the spotlight of His divine love and calling on their lives. As the curtain of the New Testament rises, women fill the stage and take starring roles as God’s grand drama of salvation unfolds.

As you consider each woman Jesus impacted, I pray you will write your name into the script and experience Him as never before.

You are precious to God. Your name is written in the palm of His hand.

*For deeper reflection, listen to John 20.

on • Heather Holleman

Several years ago, I began to picture myself in the guarded fortress of God’s care as a way to help my fear and anxiety. I had just read the Hebrew verb for “guards” (shamar) that appears most notably in Psalm 97:10 and Psalm 121 where we meet God as the One who keeps us, watches over us, protects us, and rescues us from harm.

How would my relationship to Jesus change if I better understood His guarding care? And was there a way for me to actually picture this deep care of my soul, especially when my external circumstances brought suffering or chaos? 

As I searched the Psalms for the images the biblical writers themselves used to recall God’s guarding care, I loved how over 15 times in the Psalms alone, we see how the writers viewed God as their fortress.

Suddenly, I felt stronger inside as I proclaimed, as David did, that “[God] alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken” (Psalm 62:2) and that “the Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18: 2).

Picture this fortress of God’s guarding care, this place of safety and power.

No matter what’s happening around us, we know our souls remain firmly in the guarding and protective care of the Lord at all times.

Nothing can harm our guarded soul. Nothing can disturb this inner fortress of peace.

As I grew in my identity as guarded by Christ, I kept a beautiful quote in my purse from devotional writer Hannah Whittell Smith from the 1800’s.

She, too, was learning about God’s guarding care.

She wrote, “Plenty of outward discomforts there may be, and many earthly sorrows and trials, but through them all the soul that knows God cannot but dwell inwardly in a fortress of perfect peace.” 

I think about God guarding my soul, and I stay in that fortress of perfect peace. 

*For deeper reflection, listen to Psalm 18.

Read more about God’s guarding care in Guarded by Christ: Knowing the God Who Rescues and Keeps Us (Moody, 2016) 

on • Barb Roose

There are few things sweeter than watching a baby take her first few steps. No one expects the infant to stay on her feet.

Who doesn’t smile as the baby wobbles on unsteady legs or reaches out her arms when she tips forward? When the baby falls, no one is surprised. Yet, everyone rushes to see if she’s okay.

There’s always a pair of strong, loving arms to pick her up, brush away the tears and set her feet back on the ground again.

And again. And again. God does the same for us.

As the prophet Jeremiah witnesses the fall of Jerusalem into the hands of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians in 586-587 BC, he writes the book of Lamentations, capturing the pain, suffering and the hope of a God who lovingly picks up His children, even after they fall again and again.

At one point, Jeremiah fell into despair. Yet, in Lamentations 3:21 he writes when he dared to hope and remember God, his attitude changed. Then, he writes verses 22 and 23 as a beautiful declaration of God’s character and attitude toward us:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!
His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

While Israel worshipped idols and shamelessly sinned with no remorse, God remained true to His character. Their falls and failures did not diminish God’s faithfulness. Neither do ours.

Like a loving father picks up his child, God picks us up, too.

Yes, we do fall. Our wobbles and stumbles in life happen because we love to follow our own way. Yet, God’s mercies pick us up each day, if we let Him.

Today, dare yourself to hope in God’s faithfulness. If you feel like you’ve fallen, God’s waiting to pick you up.

His mercy is for you today.

*For further reflection, listen to Lamentations 3 today.