“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.
Here are some steps to release the burden of shame:
1. Acknowledge the Shame: Don’t hide from it—bring it into the light. Acknowledge where it’s been affecting you and recognize that it’s not your true identity.
2. Confess and Repent:
Confession is not to remind God of our mistakes—it’s an invitation to let go and receive His forgiveness.
If shame has rooted in something you’ve done, confess it to God and allow Him to cleanse you.
3. Embrace God’s Grace:
Know that God’s grace is sufficient. He doesn’t just forgive us; He restores us.
His forgiveness is not partial—it’s full and complete. You are no longer defined by your past, but by God’s love.
4. Declare Your New Identity:
Every time shame tries to creep back in, remind yourself that you are **a child of God** (Romans 8:15). You are loved, redeemed, and made whole in Christ.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the father’s love in the parable. His actions speak louder than words:
- He saw the son from a distance, which means he was looking for him, waiting for his return.
- He ran to him, breaking all cultural norms of dignity and respect.
- He restored him fully, not as a servant, but as a son—clothed in the best robe, a symbol of honor and love.
God is like that father—He is waiting for you.
He doesn’t hold your past mistakes against you; He sees you as His beloved child.
His heart is filled with compassion, not condemnation.
Today, God is calling you to step out of the shadows of shame and into the light of His grace. No matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been, His love is greater. Just as the father welcomed the prodigal son, God is waiting to embrace you and restore you.
If you are ready to release the burden of shame, to lay down the weight of your past, and to receive the fullness of God’s forgiveness and love, I invite you to come forward for prayer.
Today is the day of restoration.
Closing Prayer:
“Lord, we come before You, carrying the weight of shame, guilt, and regret. We lay it at Your feet today. Thank You for the cross, where You bore our shame and took it away. We accept Your forgiveness and declare that we are no longer slaves to our past, but children of the Most High. Restore us, heal us, and fill us with Your love. We embrace our new identity in You, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”
