Matt Richards
Psalm 34 I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
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Here the psalmist is saying that he prayed to the Lord and He answered him and freed him from all his fears. (fear can make you a slave)
And those that look to Him for help will be radiant with joy. Jesus is better than any antidepressant or anxiolytic.
Shadows are strange things. They are not the object itself but a kind of a reflection, a dark area ,oppressive, sadness or gloom in close proximity following someone. Not a good thing.
But here's the thing it goes onto say that no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Wow.
Shame can be a shadow, following in close proximity; bringing fear, and an oppressive gloom. Following, perusing you even.
Often people who have suffered sexual abuse end up with a shadow of shame following them.
Some people cope with it with alcohol n drugs others get prescribed Prozac n Diazepam . Others it just remains hidden, but following them even in a physical manifestation of fibromyalgia. But all of this does not deal with the root of the problem.
But here's the thing in your desperation, in dealing with the shadow of shame cry out to the Lord for help.
Jesus is the answer to shame. He can deal with the root cause not just the symptoms.
For the joy that was set before him (that's you n me) Jesus endured the shame of the cross.
(Hebrews 12:2)
He hung on the cross naked. He knows what shame is and he took the shame of every abuse even sexual abuse. He took the shame on Himself that i might not just survive but share His Glory. What an exchange, the divine exchange.
I give Jesus my shame, i receive His Glory.
Its better than Prozac or Diazepam. Not only does the Lord listen: but He saves me out of all my troubles and gets rid of all the shadows of shame. Time to get rid of the shadows.
Prayer:
Father thank You that Jesus took my shame on the cross. I look to You Jesus .I cry out to You today: Jesus deliver me from all my fears. I give You my fears and my shame right now. Thank You for hearing me, answering me and delivering me from all my troubles today. In Jesus Name amen.