SHAME tells us that we’re unworthy; that something inside us is broken beyond repair. It whispers, “If people really knew you, they wouldn’t love you.”
JOHN 4 | JESUS MEETS THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
Jesus is speaking to something deeper than physical thirst: a “spiritual thirst”; a longing we all have to be known, loved, and healed.
Jesus isn’t shaming the woman. He’s bringing her story into the light and letting her know that he sees her completely…even the parts she has tried to hide.
OUR SHADOW SIDE
Our shadow side is that part of us that we try to hide away because we worry that it makes us unworthy of love.
Shame is more than a feeling. It’s a “story” that has been wired into our brains.
Jesus meets the woman in her vulnerability. But instead of shame, he offers her
compassion and grace.
STEPS TOWARD HEALING
STEP 1: Recognize the voice of shame and RETELL THE STORY.
When feelings of shame or inadequacy show up, instead of letting them linger, bring them to God in prayer and remind yourself that you are a beloved child of God.
STEP 2: Bring your shadows into the light.
Share something “hidden” with someone you trust. Vulnerability with safe people builds the connection that shame is desperate to steal.
Shame cannot survive empathy. —Brené Brown
STEP 3: Practice vulnerability and acceptance as a spiritual discipline.
Carve out some time this week for contemplative prayer. Just sit with God—no agenda, no self-improvement plan. Let His love reach those shadowed parts of you. Remember, God sees you completely and loves you fully, even the parts you struggle to accept.
WILL YOU OPEN YOUR HEART TO JESUS TODAY?
Maybe you’ve never fully opened your heart to Jesus, but something inside you stirs—a desire to be known and loved without reservation. Or maybe you’ve walked with Jesus for a while but still feel weighed down by shame, like there’s a part of you that just can’t seem to break free. Jesus wants to meet you right there—in the middle of your honest, unfiltered self. He wants to lift that weight and show you the kind of freedom only He can give. There’s no better time than now!
Here’s a prayer you can pray to invite Jesus in:
Jesus, I come as I am—with my shame, my burdens, and all the hidden places I’ve held onto. I open my heart to Your love. I ask for Your forgiveness, Your grace, and Your healing. Help me to let go, to trust in Your love that sees me fully and loves me completely. Thank You for meeting me here, for loving me unconditionally, and for giving me a new beginning. Amen.