Message Minute (Understanding Shame)

"And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years... She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak." Luke 8:43-44

Shame whispers lies that cut deeper than guilt ever could. While guilt says "you did something bad," shame declares "you ARE something bad." It's the voice telling you that you're fundamentally flawed, unworthy, unlovable.

The holidays often amplify shame. Returning home means facing people who knew you "back when." Family gatherings surface old wounds. Social media showcases everyone's highlight reel while you're carrying secrets nobody knows about.

Like the woman in Luke 8 who suffered for twelve years, shame keeps people hidden and isolated. She was ceremonially unclean, cut off from community, unable to worship publicly. Nobody had touched her in over a decade. She'd spent everything seeking healing but found none. She was hopeless, nameless, invisible.

Shame thrives in secrecy and silence. It convinces you that if people really knew your story, they'd reject you. But here's the truth: shame loses its power the moment it's spoken to someone safe.

Reflection: What shame are you carrying into this season that needs to be brought into the light?

Prayer: Jesus, shame has kept me hiding for too long. Give me courage to come out of the shadows and reach for You. Help me find safe people who will respond with compassion, not condemnation. Amen.