Letting Go Of The Burden Of Shame. Psalm 103:11-12

“Letting go of the Burden of Shame. Psalm 103:11-12

Good Morning

Stand with me and lift your bible and repeat after me.

This is my Bible.

I am what it says I am.

I can do what it says I can do.

I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.

Today I will learn more of the word of God.

The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.

I will never be the same.

I will never be the same.

In Jesus Name

Amen?

Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.

"Letting Go of the Burden of Shame"

Open your Bible to Psalm 103:11-12 and say, “Amen” when you are there.

Shame is a powerful, hidden weight that many of us carry silently. It’s not just guilt—the awareness of something we’ve done wrong—but shame is the sense that there’s something fundamentally wrong with us. It often makes us feel unworthy of love, of God’s grace, or of a second chance.

Shame whispers that we’re not enough, that we don’t deserve the healing or forgiveness God offers.

But the good news of the gospel is that God does not want us to live under the oppressive burden of shame. Instead, He invites us to lay it down, receive His forgiveness, and be transformed by His love.

Today, we’re going to look at how we can experience freedom from the shame of our past and embrace the new life Christ offers.

Shame is often deeply rooted in our experiences, mistakes, and the voices of others—whether they are words we’ve heard or messages we've internalized. It tells us:

- "You are not enough."

- "You’ve messed up too badly."

- "You are defined by your past."

But the truth is: God does not define us by our failures. He sees us as His beloved children, redeemed by the blood of Christ, and He longs to restore us fully.

Shame says, “You are unworthy”, but God’s voice says, “You are loved, you are mine, and you are forgiven.”

Turn with me to Luke 15:11-32

Let’s turn to one of the most powerful stories of grace and redemption—the parable of the prodigal son. This story reveals the heart of God for those burdened by shame and the powerful restoration He offers.

The prodigal son, after receiving his inheritance, chose to live recklessly. He squandered everything he had, ending up penniless and broken. When he finally hit rock bottom, he realized the weight of his choices, and he prepared to return to his father in shame. He didn’t believe he deserved to be a son anymore—just a servant.

But what happened next?

When the father saw him from a distance, he didn’t wait for an apology or a perfect confession. He didn’t lecture or condemn him. Instead, the father ran to him, embraced him, and said, "Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Let’s have a feast and celebrate, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now is found!" (Luke 15:22-24).

This father is a picture of God. No matter how far we’ve fallen or how heavy our shame feels, God is running toward us.

His arms are wide open, and He’s ready to cover us with His grace and restore us to our true identity as His beloved children.

Let me share with you the story of Sarah. Sarah had a past filled with poor decisions—broken relationships, mistakes she couldn’t undo. For years, she carried the weight of shame, feeling she was unworthy of God’s love or anyone’s acceptance. She stayed distant from God, convinced that she couldn’t be forgiven for the things she had done.

One day, a friend invited her to church. Reluctantly, she agreed to come. As she sat in the service, hearing about God’s grace and love, something stirred in her heart. She remembered how the prodigal son had returned home, and how the father embraced him without hesitation.

That day, Sarah made a choice. She went forward for prayer, laying her past at the feet of Jesus, surrendering the shame that had held her back. In that moment, she felt a burden lift off her shoulders. The weight of guilt and shame was replaced by a peace she had never known.

Sarah’s story reminds us that, no matter how far we’ve fallen, God’s love is greater than our shame**. He restores, He forgives, and He makes us whole again.

What about you today?

Are you carrying the heavy burden of shame?

Are there areas of your life where you’ve felt unworthy of God’s love or forgiveness?

Maybe you’ve made mistakes in your past that still haunt you, or words have been spoken over you that you can’t shake.