Turning Shame into Radiance

This post was originally published on the blog I write for Deeper Still Ministries, at www.deeperstilldevotions.blogspot.com.  I wanted to share it with you today.  

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, 

And delivered me from all my fears.

They looked to Him and were radiant, 

And their faces were not ashamed...

The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him 

And delivers them.

Oh taste and see that the Lord is good;

Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!"  Psalms 34: 4-5, 7

During the summer, I took one of my children to a local amusement park.  I promised this child I would not share the details surrounding this event with anyone, so I will be vague on purpose.  This child did something...well... embarrassing.  So much so that we left a line of a much anticipated ride so we could deal with the incident.

We sat on a bench while I contemplated what the consequence should be for this action.  I prayed, "Lord, what should I do?"  I looked at my child's face.  Tears ran down sweet cheeks that were filled with smiles moments before.  My child was looking down and I knew if I reacted wrongly that shame would set in and it might set in deep.  Suddenly, my child looked up at me with tear filled eyes and said wholeheartedly, "I am so sorry. I will never do that again. Please forgive me."  Immediately, my heart melted.  I knew my child was truly sorry.  The answer to my prayer--Grace.  

I embraced my child and smiled.  I replied, "I know you are truly sorry. I can tell. Thank you for telling me you are sorry. Let's pray and you can ask God to forgive you too.  And then, it will be like it never happened.  Do you know that when we ask the Lord to forgive our sins and we are truly sorry, He forgets them and removes them as far as the east is from the west?"  So we prayed and I told my child we would forget this happened and enjoy the rest of our day.  

Do you know what happened after my child sought the Lord and prayed for forgiveness?  The shame that was setting in on my child's face disappeared and instead beamed with radiance.  "They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed."  Oh, how the Lord wants our faces to be radiant with His glory!  He doesn't want His glory hidden under a mask of shame.  Grace, truth and forgiveness unleash us to be the person He created us to be.  He created us for His glory!  

He wants to say, "Dear child, I remove your sins as far as the east is from the west.  I want to replace shame with the glowing radiance of My glory.  And I want you to enjoy the rest of your life bringing glory and honor to Me."