Five Negative and Harmful EmotionsSample

Shame

Shame started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. They felt ashamed. Deep inside us, we feel shame because we know we are constantly sinning and disobeying God.

Shame is spiritually destroying the lives of millions. Life is complex, and most of us go through hard, evil, unfair, and traumatic experiences in our lifetime. Such circumstances can cause feelings of shame.

It can be the result of being molested as a child or being raped. Or the rejection from a parent, a friend, or a sibling - someone in authority or close to you who said and did things that hurt you physically or emotionally. People who are deeply and repeatedly humiliated and rejected often react with feelings of shame and worthlessness.

Shame has several types of reactions: some will withdraw, take the back seat, or flee. They will not fight or defend themselves. Others will react with rebellion, constant fighting, and hatred.

How do we escape this evil web of negative and conflicting emotions, lies, humiliation, rejection and a sense of worthlessness? Ask God to show you your heart. What others think of and do to you is not who you are. You must not allow other people's behaviour, accusations and words to define who you are and what you think about yourself. Healing begins when you forgive those who harmed you and choose to feel about yourself as God thinks about you.

Obedience: Take time to pray through the issue of shame in your life. Go to Jesus. He destroyed all shame by becoming shame in our place. Many people will need someone to work through this issue with them.

God created you with great care. You are precious to Him. Trust the Word and the One that made you: For You formed my inmost being… I am fearfully and wonderfully made… My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret… Your eyes saw my unformed body… How amazing are Your thoughts concerning me - how vast is their sum! (Psalm 139:13-17).

Prayerfully think through Isaiah 61:1-3. These verses refer to Jesus, and this is what he wants to do for you:He has sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners... to comfort all who mourn… to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair.