Does your mind ever wander down deep rabbit holes and land on past experiences? For me, some of those memories are good, where my mind loves to linger. Then there are times when painful memories pop up from the shadows.
TRIP DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE
Recently, I experienced one of those ugly trips down a rabbit hole. I remembered speaking before thinking and unintentionally hurting a friend. The echoes of that memory left me feeling yucky, simply yucky. I can’t think of a better word to describe the gnawing in the pit of my gut mixed with deep regret. The incident that evoked such emotion happened years ago and was resolved. But there I was, remembering the sickening feelings again, as if the incident had just occurred.
FEELINGS OF SHAME
However, something changed this time. As the yucky emotions threatened to smother me, the Holy Spirit helped me identify those feelings as SHAME! Now, it would be legitimate to feel this way if I hadn’t asked for forgiveness. But I had, and there was no reason to keep reliving it. Doesn’t God forget our confessed transgressions?
WHAT GOD SAYS
This was worth investigating, leading me to look up some verses on God’s forgiveness. Here are just a few:
Isaiah 43:25 – “I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and remembers your sins no more.”
Jeremiah 31:34b & Hebrews 8:12 – “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
MY IDENTITY
Not only are my sins are completely wiped away, but I remember who I am in Christ. An adopted Child of God! “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:15-16)
MY ADOPTION CERTIFICATE
Adoptive parents strongly desire to adopt. They look forward to the day with great anticipation. The adoption certificate proves whose family the child now belongs to. Scripture states that those who put their faith in Jesus are adopted into God’s family according to His will! Our sins are wiped clean by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is our spiritual adoption certificate.
I now carry in my heart my spiritual adoption certificate. When shame tries to creep in, I remember who I am in Jesus. He paid too high of a price for me to continue living with those yucky feelings of shame. My Abba Father declares proudly that I am His, and His alone.
AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST
Are you an adopted child of God who becomes trapped in the rabbit hole of shame? It is an issue that needs to be dealt with. Remember the Lord urges us to confess and turn our backs on sin. If you are feeling shame long after you experienced forgiveness, you too have a spiritual adoption certificate. Our Abba Father is the One who blots out our transgressions for His own sake. He remembers our sins no more. “As far as the eastern horizon is from the west, so He removes the guilt of our rebellious actions from us.” (Psalm 103:12) This is the wonderful freedom of being fully forgiven in Christ Jesus.