"Then was this my marvel that I saw our Lord God shewing to us no more blame than if we were as clean and as holy as Angels be in heaven."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 50)
Guilt, blame and shame seem to plague us sometimes, with feelings not just of guilt for things we have done but even shame for just being who we are. We can feel not only wrong in our behavior but wrong in our very identity. Yet God does not show any blame, condemnation or accusation towards us. He never shames us for what we've done or who we are. In fact, God doesn't see anything wrong with who we are at all. He sees what we often cannot see: the good, noble person He created. No matter what our behavior, thoughts or feelings, our identity remains unchanged. We are simply His children made in His good image and therefore, good. God even called us "very good" when He created humankind. So while we see ourselves as messed up, shameful or bad, God keeps on seeing the truth about us, seeing us as pure and clean as the angels in heaven! This is how He has always seen us and always will, simply as little children who are innocent and sweet, who get in messes but really don't know what they are doing, who are essentially good by nature, who are beloved and valuable. Christ came to take away the sin and death that plagued us and to bring us righteousness, but this was all for us, so we could feel clean and pure before God and be able to enjoy relationship with Him without fear or shame. For our Father God has never lost sight of our true innocence. He has held onto our true identity all along. He has seen us as innocent kids all along. He has called us pure and holy as the angels all along! He is holding us in His arms right now as a Father would hold his little child, rocking us to sleep and singing over us a lullaby of innocence, goodness and belovedness. We are His very own darling children who are perfect in His eyes. Nothing could ever change that!
"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"
1 John 3:1 (NIV)
"He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn."
Psalm 37:6 (NLT)
A Prayer: Thank You for never shaming me but always affirming me!