Dealing with My Own Shame.
3.1.21
Journal Entry #6
Humility: Being more focused on others rather than focusing so much on yourself. This is probably the clearest definition I could find of the word “humility.” What does humility have to do with letting go of our shame? Let’s redefine humility for the purpose of dealing with shame: being more focused on your story helping someone else being free from shame than focusing so much on what other’s think about you. If we begin to take the focus off us and begin to think about how we can help people, then we are in the right position to defeat this shame. Have you ever heard anyone say, “God will turn your mess into a message?” The shame you are fighting can be shared with someone else who may be going through the same thing.
When I first thought about sharing what I was ashamed of with someone else I nearly threw up. That’s how scared I was! I literally felt sick to my stomach. The thought of the world knowing what I went through scared me sick. Here’s the thing though, you only have to share when God says share. If he’s not telling you to get a microphone and tell the whole world then don’t take on that pressure. If He’s not telling you to share on Instagram live then don’t. He may just be telling you to start with your best friend or a counselor. God told me to share it with my husband before we got married. Then He had me share in group therapy. I felt so much freer that night! God may never ever tell you to share with certain people and not because you are too ashamed to share. There may also come a time where you will have to share with people that you are too scared to tell but remember it could help them. Imagine how many people are going through what you went through that need to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You could be the reason they don’t give up, get help, repent, or turn to God. Humility is when we aren’t focused on being too scared to share what we are ashamed of because we are more concerned with helping someone else.
Sometimes we need examples of something before we can do it, so let’s look at Jesus. Jesus was the humblest man to walk this planet. The Bible says that Jesus (who was equal with God) did not use His equality but instead came down to Earth as a servant and gave His life as ransom for us. Let’s look at some scripture of what Jesus says about humility:
Matthew 18:1-5 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
Jesus is saying to humble yourself with a childlike surrender to Him.
Matthew 19:28-30 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[a] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Jesus is saying put others before yourself and you will become first.
Matthew 20:20-28 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 “What is it you want?” he asked. She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.” 22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. 23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In this passage, this lady wanted Jesus to give her sons a certain rank and Jesus answered humbly saying that is not His place to hand out those ranks. He said that’s God’s job. Jesus told His disciples that if they want to be first then they must put others before them and serve them. He also said He himself came to serve and not be served.
Here’s a few more:
Mark 9:33-35 33 They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” 34 But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. 35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Mark 10:35-45 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Humility is not so much an act as it is a state of mind, so it’ll take some practice and mind renewal. Here are some scriptures to meditate on daily:
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,
Proverbs 22:4 Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life.
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Proverbs 15:33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.
Zephaniah 2:3 Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord’s anger.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
1 Peter 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
While you are going through these scriptures take a listen to Good & Loved by Travis Greene. Pay close attention to when they say, “You aren’t afraid of the whole story, You turn it around for your Glory.”
Love Always,
Alexandra