“And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.” – Matthew 1:19


Read Matthew 1:19. Can you imagine Mary, a teenage girl, pregnant and alone? Maybe you can. Maybe you’ve been in a place where you felt abandoned, scared, and without hope. But as an unmarried, pregnant woman, I imagine Mary felt a lot of shame. While she had done no wrong, it was still a shameful position if you didn’t know the situation. You might know this feeling as well. Maybe your shame is because of something you did, something that someone else did to you, or a life situation where no one is at fault, but you still feel ashamed.


There are a couple of things that are important to know about shame. If someone has done something to you that caused you to feel shame, you need to talk to an adult about it. Especially if it’s something they shouldn’t have done or something that has hurt you. If it’s something you’ve done, you need to know that our God is a God that forgives.


Many of us feel shame around this time of year for other reasons, though. We feel shame because we might not have as much money as other families, not get as many presents, deal with separated or dysfunctional families, or are dealing with seasonal depression.


These things and many others can consume our thoughts and define our actions and moods. When we experience shame, it’s important to remember that the mother of our Lord experienced the same thing. But she didn’t let it rule her or define her. She knew what God had told her and found comfort and confidence in the fact that He was with her. Our God is not a God who delights in shame. So when it creeps up on you this Christmas season, don’t let it consume you. Know that God is with you.



QUESTIONS:


When you begin to feel shame, what do you currently do to avoid it?


What do you think it would take to not be consumed or defined by shame?