“When you feel surrounded by accusers with rocks in hand, you can be certain that God is not one of tem. Our good, compassionate God lavishes mercy instead of anger on all who ask.”- Bo Stern, The God Who Fights for You
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”- Romans 12:12
Susie Larson talks about the issue of shame in Chapter 11 (“Dare to Knock”) of Your Powerful Prayers. Ms. Larson states shame often keeps us from boldly running into the arms of our Father after we’ve blown it. In addition, shame keeps us from daring to ask for things we’d never earn, deserve, or acquire on our own.
Furthermore, as Curt Thompson writes in The Soul of Shame, shame’s both a “source and result of evil’s active assault on creation.” Curt explains:
“Shame is not just a consequence of something our first parents did in the Garden of Eden. It is the emotional weapon that evil uses to (1) corrupt our relationships with God and each other, and (2) disintegrate any and all gifts of vocational vision and creativity. . . . Shame is the primary means to prevent us from using the gifts we have been given. And those gifts enable us to flourish as a light-bearing community of Jesus followers . . .”
In conclusion, Ms. Larson admits that she uses to think the word shameless brought forth negative connotations only. For example, a shameless person shows no fear of God or concern for others. However, Susie now believes shameless reflects positive attributes as well: unconcealed, undisguised, transparent, unashamed.
As the author states, Jesus “wants us in His presence, full and free, healed and whole, expectant and full of faith.
Today’s question: During and/or following your vocation loss, when have you felt surrounded by accusers with rocks in hand? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “So walk on, child of God”