2 Timothy 1:12 “…But I am not ashamed for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day which has been entrusted to me.”
I was talking with a woman the other day who has trouble remembering who she is as a child of the Most High God. Oh, she doesn’t experience amnesia when it comes to recalling all her mess-ups. Consequently, she finds herself locked into a prison of shame rather than walking in the freedom Christ died to give her.
The problem with shame is that it leads to self-pity, and self-pity drains us of every whit of confidence. As Oswald Chambers writes, “Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for his purpose in the world.” So giving into shame detours us from the end goal. We spend all our energy thinking about our unworthiness rather than letting God use us—although poor broken vessels—to advance his kingdom.
A dank, stinky cell imprisoned Paul. Yet he never let himself fall into the doldrums of shame. In fact, in the first chapter of his second letter to Timothy, he refers to not being ashamed three times. He exhorts Timothy not to be ashamed of the gospel or of him (v. 8). He’s not ashamed of his status as a prisoner (v.12) and he commends Onesiphorus for not being ashamed of his chains (v. 16).
A lot of our shame stems from a sense of not living up to expectations, from ourselves or from others. But perfect behavior from fallen creatures will never be attainable in this life. Thankfully, God provides a way out. “No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame” (Psalm 25:3 NIV).
Paul wasn’t ashamed because he knew the One in whom he believed, and he put his hope fully in him. He recognized his life consisted of more than his accomplishments or failures. He lived for a purpose so high only God could help him pull it off.
And so do we.
Do you ever forget you are a child of the Most High God? His plan for you includes your mistakes, faults and outright defeats. Don’t let the devil use shame to detour you from hoping in the one in whom you believe.