How to Let Go of Shame and Embrace God’s Forgiveness
Imagine graffiti sprayed across a crumbling brick wall: a backpack weighed down with boulders, and underneath, a simple caption—“Put it down.”
Shame is a weight that wraps itself around your soul like chains, whispering that you’ll never be enough. It hides in your mind, distorting who you are and twisting your relationship with God. But here’s the truth: The weight you carry isn’t yours to bear.
Today, we’ll challenge shame like a Banksy mural defies convention, exposing it for what it is: a lie. And then, like any great artist, we’ll tear down the old to make space for the new—a life of freedom rooted in God’s forgiveness.
Part 1: What Shame Is and Why It Hurts
Shame is more than a feeling; it’s a parasite. It feeds on your failures, amplifies your weaknesses, and convinces you that redemption is impossible.
Psychologists call shame the most isolating emotion. It creates a false narrative about your identity—I am broken, I am unworthy, I am beyond saving.
But let me challenge that narrative. Look at Genesis 3. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit, they didn’t just hide their actions; they hid themselves. Genesis 3:7 (NIV) says:
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.”
Shame doesn’t make you repent; it makes you retreat. It builds walls between you and God, whispering, You can’t let Him see this.
Here’s where it gets radical: God already sees. He doesn’t come with condemnation; He comes with a solution.
Part 2: The Inner Dialogue of Shame
Shame doesn’t show up with a megaphone—it’s subtler than that. It’s the voice in the back of your head that asks:
Why did you even try?
What will people think if they knew?
Do you really think God can forgive this?
Shame is a master manipulator. It takes your guilt—a healthy recognition of wrongdoing—and weaponizes it into self-hatred.
But let’s step back and examine this critically. Jordan Peterson, in his lectures, often speaks about the importance of speaking truth into chaos. Shame thrives in lies. So, to confront it, you must speak a greater truth:
Romans 8:1 (NIV) shouts louder than any lie:
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
This isn’t just a spiritual platitude—it’s a legal declaration. Your shame is overruled, its power revoked.
Part 3: Breaking the Cycle of Shame
A friend of mine—we’ll call her Jessica—spent years battling an eating disorder. For her, shame wasn’t just a feeling; it was a lifestyle. Every time she looked in the mirror, she saw failure.
But one day, she came across a quote painted on a city wall: “Your worth isn’t tied to your weight.” That message opened a door in her mind. She started reading scripture again, and she found herself in Psalm 139:14 (NIV):
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Jessica told me, “I realized I wasn’t just fighting my own thoughts—I was fighting lies I’d internalized for years. When I spoke God’s truth into that chaos, the shame started to crack.”
Part 4: The Antidote to Shame
Here’s the revolutionary truth: Forgiveness isn’t just about absolving your mistakes. It’s about reclaiming your identity.
Colossians 2:14 (NIV) is a manifesto for the soul:
“[God] forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
Did you catch that imagery? Your shame isn’t swept under the rug—it’s nailed to the cross, where it can never rise again.
A Guided Exercise to Let Go of Shame
Let’s get personal. Close your eyes and picture the weight of your shame—a massive mural splashed with every mistake and regret.
Now imagine Jesus stepping into the frame. He pulls out a paintbrush, dips it in pure white, and starts to cover the graffiti. As He paints, He speaks:
“This doesn’t define you.”
“You are mine.”
“It is finished.”
When the mural is clean, He writes one final word: “Forgiven.”
Practical Steps to Overcome Shame
Releasing shame isn’t about pretending your mistakes don’t matter; it’s about letting Christ redefine their meaning. Here’s how to live in that freedom:
Speak Truth Over Lies: Write out scriptures like Isaiah 43:25 (NIV):
“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.”
Read them aloud. Let them reshape your internal dialogue.Create a Shame-Free Zone: Find people who will listen without judgment—a mentor, a friend, a small group.
Take Small, Brave Steps: Shame tells you to hide. Freedom says, Come out of hiding.
Leave a Mark: Use your story to bring hope to others. Like Banksy, leave your message where people can see it—your testimony can become someone else’s breakthrough.
Reclaim Your Identity
Shame thrives in secrecy, but freedom flourishes in truth. You are not your mistakes. You are not your failures.
You are a masterpiece in progress, painted by the hand of God Himself. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV) declares:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
So, walk boldly. You are free.
Take the Next Step
If this message stirred something in you, don’t stop here. Visit FaithLabz.com to download a free resource on overcoming shame. Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it. And most importantly, spend some time today asking God to help you walk in freedom.
Because you were never meant to carry that backpack. It’s time to let it go.
