«Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest» (Matthew 11:28).
Smedes said that one day, not knowing why, he felt guilty. He tried to figure out the cause, but he did not remember having done anything wrong. Then he told his good friend Neil Warren what was happening to him. Without much thought, Neil told him that his problem was not a feeling of guilt, but of shame. Smedes said that at the moment he did not understand what his friend wanted to tell him, but a short time later, he understood his words. It happened when he was visiting his mother in the hospital. At one point during the visit, he heard her say that she was very happy because the Lord had forgiven her. Then she added, «Oh, Lewis, you know I’ve been a great sinner.»
A great sinner? His mother’s statement surprised him. All her life, that woman had struggled alone, cleaning houses, so she could raise five children. Why did she say such a thing? Lewis then recalled Neil Warren’s words, and thought, «What my mother is feeling is not guilt, but shame.» All her life, his mother had believed that she was not good enough, neither as a mother, nor as a Christian. «The feeling of not being good enough was for her the same as being bad,» Smedes wrote.’
What, then, is the difference between guilt and shame? According to Smedes, guilt is a product of the bad we do. Shame, on the other hand, has to do with the kind of people we are. It is the result of believing that we do not live up to what is expected of us, that we are not good enough.
The good news is that there is a «balm in Gilead» for both guilt and feelings of shame. In addition, to the precious blood of Jesus Christ providing the perfect remedy for your guilt of sin (see I John 1:9), His wonderful grace assures you that you do not have to wait to be good to go to Him. Is that not exactly what our text today says? «Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.»
In other words, go to Jesus as you are! Take everything that afflicts your heart to Him right now If you go to Him, His promise is that He will not cast you out.
Dear Jesus, at this moment I come to You as I am, trusting that you will not reject me.
Please help me believe that Your precious blood cleanses all my sins, and that by Your grace, I am complete in You.
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Taken from: Devotional Readings for Adults 2022
“GREAT IS OUR GOD!”
From: FERNANDO ZABALA
Collaborators: Xiomara Perdomo & Angelica Cuate