Bye, Bye Shame: Embracing our Freedom in Christ
Does your past trouble you? Do you find yourself worried about your future? Are your circumstances getting the best of you?
If you’ve ever felt this way, you’re not alone. One of the enemy’s most effective tactics is to keep believers trapped in their past- focusing on what we did wrong, how we missed it, or what we lost—in hopes of paralyzing our efforts to move forward.
The enemy knows that, as believers, we’ve already overcome through the blood of Jesus. The only tool he has left is our past. So, he relentlessly reminds us of past mistakes, trying to make us fearful about our future.
Why It’s So Hard to Forget Our Past Mistakes
One reason it’s so hard to forget past mistakes is that we live every day with the consequences of the choices we’ve made.
We say things like, “If only I had managed my money better, I’d be out of debt,” or “If I had raised my kids differently, they would have turned out better,” or “If I had stayed in school, I’d have a better job,” and so on. Talking this way makes it easy to feel regret, become discouraged, and stay stagnant in life.
I know this struggle firsthand. There was a season in my life when I felt tormented by my past. Everywhere I looked, I was reminded of the mistakes I’d made. My health was suffering, my finances were out of control, and I was stuck in a job I didn’t want. I felt like I was falling behind in my purpose - every day, I was constantly reminded of what I had done wrong.
The more I focused on my circumstances, the harder it was to see any way out. But here’s the truth: Jesus didn’t die so His children could remain in darkness. He died to give us abundant life—full of peace and joy.
Moving from Darkness to Light
In John 12:46, Jesus says, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness.”
In darkness, there’s shame, fear, condemnation, and sin. But in the light of Christ, there’s forgiveness, freedom, hope, peace, and joy.
So, fear and shame no longer belong to you. The enemy wants you to carry what actually belongs to him. When Adam and Eve fell into sin, the first two emotions they felt were fear and shame. But as believers, when we were translated out of darkness into light, God took away our shame.
Jesus didn’t just bear our sins—"He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4).
Let go of what belongs to those in darkness. Fear and shame no longer have a place in your life.
You have permission to never feel grief over your past again.
God’s Promise of Forgiveness
1 John 1:9 reminds us that, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Not only did God forgive us—the Scriptures say, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
These are powerful truths. God Almighty has forgiven us, removed our transgressions, and the Word even goes on to say, “He remembers them no more” (Hebrews 8:12). Our past sins are not even on God’s radar anymore or held against us – they’re covered by the blood of Jesus.
Embracing Your Identity in Christ
As Kingdom citizens, receive what rightfully belongs to you. We have a new identity in Christ. The Kingdom of God is not about what we eat or drink, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
You may not know exactly how or when things will turn around in your life, but you can stand firm in the truth that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
I once heard a minister say something that really stuck with me: “Your past being brought up to you is nothing but a temptation to make you come out of who you are in Christ.” The devil will try to convince you that because of wrong decisions or steps you’ve taken, something of God’s plan for you has been lost. But let me remind you—nothing is lost.
The enemy may try to convince you otherwise, but God knows how to lose nothing. Christ in you is far greater than anything you’ve ever messed up.
You may still be seeing the aftermath of your mistakes, but if you’ve asked for forgiveness and repented, those mistakes are covered by the blood of Jesus.
The next time the devil tries to put shame on you, just say, “Nope—I’m not receiving it. That doesn’t belong to me anymore.”