Walk of Shame

As far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:12

One morning while driving my kids to school, I saw her.  Disheveled and barefoot in a rumpled purple cocktail dress, high-heeled black pumps dangling from one hand, she walked up the hill on 9^th Street in Boulder near CU.  Snapshots of her night filled my mind: a fraternity party, lots of drinking and dancing, a cute guy flirting, telling her she’s beautiful, innocent kissing at first, then lights out, nakedness, finally sleep.  With the morning light, eyes pop open, pounding headache, find the dress, grab the shoes, and hurry out... try hard to forget the night. 

Everything inside of me wanted to pull over and invite the young college woman to sit next to me in the passenger seat.  I’d drive her home so no one would see her “walk of shame.”  My heart ached for a total stranger because I knew her heart was saturated with shame. 

If I could climb to the roof of the tallest building of any college campus, I’d yell “What you do in college, you will remember for the rest of your life!” 

Don’t you wish that when God gave you grace, He also handed you a delete button to wipe away all the sinful memories of your past?  I don’t know about you, but I find it easier to accept forgiveness from God than to grant it to myself.

Recently, while listening to a pastor preach on David’s shameful past, I saw other snapshots in my mind.  Bathsheba taking a cleansing bath on her roof top. David spying her beauty from afar.  David sending a servant to bring Bathsheba close.  A secret night together.  A child conceived.  David plotting to cover up his tracks.  Bathsheba’s husband being killed in battle.  David thinking he’d gotten away with it.  Nathan the prophet confronting David.  David crying out to God for forgiveness.  

When you mess up or hurt others, do you quickly run to God and ask for forgiveness?  Or do you beat yourself up over and over again because you think you deserve it?

God promises that when we confess our sins to Him, He will remove our sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12).  Guess who wrote that Psalm?  You got it, David.  David knew personally how miserable we’d become if we tried to cover up or ignore our mistakes.  God used David’s deep shame for good so we’d learn to go straight to Him for forgiveness.  Once we accept God’s forgiveness, we can ask Him to help us forgive ourselves. 

When Jesus died on the cross at 3pm, He stretched His arms out to the east and to the west.  Jesus endured great pain to set us free from guilt and shame.  He now calls us to forgive ourselves.

No more “walks of shame.”  Instead let’s walk with Jesus, thanking Him for setting us free and showing us the way to truly forgive ourselves.  

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36

The Power of Giving God Thanks Will Ignite Your Faith and Change Your World!

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