A Basket of Shame Eggs
"In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:1-5
Do not let me be put to shame... David cries out to God. You can sense his fear... The fear of shame. Oooof. That's a big one. It's not just fear of hard things, of physical pain, of loss. It's fear of shame itself. Can you relate? That moment before you step on stage; before walking across the room to introduce yourself; before asking for a raise; before interviewing for a position beyond your current ability; before confessing your failure to a friend. The risk is huge. The risk is "being put to shame." It's a phrase that conveys activity; something which is done to us. The action of another that tells us we do not belong, are not enough, are unwanted, that we are unacceptable in some way. When I read this phrase I think of walls all around me and the door being shut, saying, "Stay in there by yourself. No one wants you to come out." You are "put to shame". Almost like the dog being put out in the backyard because he's being annoying to the guests!
This is our ultimate fear. Shame. The feeling that, "No one would want me here." No one wants to feel that. And yet, I'd dare to say, all of us do.
In this darkest fear, we see David cry out to God. He "puts his trust" in God. Again, an active phrase. It's not just, "I feel trusting toward God." No. He turns to God and says, "Yahweh, I am putting all my eggs in your basket. I am resting entirely on you. If you let me down, I am lost." Again, this is an action of incredible risk. To say that in this place of deepest pain, David is resting his entire hope for protection, acceptance and belonging on God, means the result if God were to let him down would be devastating. And yet, he does. David trusts that God is the one who can open the door to the place of isolation. The one who will say, "You no longer have to be alone in this place. No matter what happens you will always belong with me. Where I go, you go. You will never be put to shame."
I love also what comes next. David knows that just being secure in God's love is not enough. He also needs to know God will guide him, lead him, teach him, help him grow. There is a security that comes in knowing that even in the places where we fail, where we are still weak, where we struggle, God will not leave us either. That he will continue to redeem us and help us grow and become the fullness of who he has called us to be. What a beautiful promise! As I face my insufficiency in the place of my calling, I can also rest on God's faithfulness to guide me and teach me there. He is faithful there too.
Will you open the door and let the father lead you out of your shame into his embrace and faithfulness in the place of your greatest fear and failure? It is a beautiful place...
Do not let me be put to shame... David cries out to God. You can sense his fear... The fear of shame. Oooof. That's a big one. It's not just fear of hard things, of physical pain, of loss. It's fear of shame itself. Can you relate? That moment before you step on stage; before walking across the room to introduce yourself; before asking for a raise; before interviewing for a position beyond your current ability; before confessing your failure to a friend. The risk is huge. The risk is "being put to shame." It's a phrase that conveys activity; something which is done to us. The action of another that tells us we do not belong, are not enough, are unwanted, that we are unacceptable in some way. When I read this phrase I think of walls all around me and the door being shut, saying, "Stay in there by yourself. No one wants you to come out." You are "put to shame". Almost like the dog being put out in the backyard because he's being annoying to the guests!
This is our ultimate fear. Shame. The feeling that, "No one would want me here." No one wants to feel that. And yet, I'd dare to say, all of us do.
In this darkest fear, we see David cry out to God. He "puts his trust" in God. Again, an active phrase. It's not just, "I feel trusting toward God." No. He turns to God and says, "Yahweh, I am putting all my eggs in your basket. I am resting entirely on you. If you let me down, I am lost." Again, this is an action of incredible risk. To say that in this place of deepest pain, David is resting his entire hope for protection, acceptance and belonging on God, means the result if God were to let him down would be devastating. And yet, he does. David trusts that God is the one who can open the door to the place of isolation. The one who will say, "You no longer have to be alone in this place. No matter what happens you will always belong with me. Where I go, you go. You will never be put to shame."
I love also what comes next. David knows that just being secure in God's love is not enough. He also needs to know God will guide him, lead him, teach him, help him grow. There is a security that comes in knowing that even in the places where we fail, where we are still weak, where we struggle, God will not leave us either. That he will continue to redeem us and help us grow and become the fullness of who he has called us to be. What a beautiful promise! As I face my insufficiency in the place of my calling, I can also rest on God's faithfulness to guide me and teach me there. He is faithful there too.
Will you open the door and let the father lead you out of your shame into his embrace and faithfulness in the place of your greatest fear and failure? It is a beautiful place...
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