Field guide · Weather
Us with Godand Shame
Forecast: low fog that clings, with the same old memory rolling in at 2 a.m.
Four tired ways to walk
Each has some truth in it. None of them is the whole story.
Under GodSheep that hide from the Shepherd
If God really saw me, he’d turn away, so I’d better hide this.
Over GodSheep that know the way
I’ll work on my self-talk until I stop feeling this way.
From GodSheep that follow the grass
God, just make the feeling go away so I can get on with my life.
For GodSheep trying to be the sheepdog
If I do enough good, maybe it will outweigh what I’ve done.
He covers you instead of exposing you.
Shame has been with us since the garden, where Adam and Eve hid from God. And God made them clothes (Gen 3:21). That is his way. Jesus let a woman everyone despised wash his feet with her tears, and he sent her home in peace (Luke 7:36–50). He took on the cross and scorned its shame (Heb 12:2) so ours would not have the last word. There is now no condemnation for those who are in him (Rom 8:1).
Where the Shepherd isHe is walking toward us in the garden, calling “Where are you?” to bring us home, not to catch us (Gen 3:8–9).
Name the thing you’re ashamed of to God, then to one trusted person. Shame shrinks in the light.
Jesus, what do you see when you look at me?
Fellow travelers
People in Scripture who walked this ground before us.
- The woman with the alabaster jar came to Jesus with her reputation and left with his peace (Luke 7:44–50).
- The Samaritan woman heard Jesus tell her everything she had done and ran to tell the town (John 4:28–29).
Keep walking
- With God: Sheep that know his voicethe posture every entry points to
- Which Way Are You Walking?a short self-check
- The Field Guideevery entry, by terrain, weather and crossing