The day before we left for a weekend in Kansas City, our sewer backed up. Ugh. Too much Charmin I guess. So throughout the
Why didn’t we use a different bathroom? Sometimes it’s an emergency people. Also, we were hoping the problem would get fixed quickly. But we are learning nothing is quick in a small town.
So when my 8-year-old daughter got home from school, she discovered the problem. There is no way she is using an un-flushed toilet. Does anyone have kids like that?
In fact, she is so frustrated with the situation that she declares — “Fine! I’m never using the bathroom again. We are going to be one of those families that can’t use the bathroom in their own house!!” And angrily stomps off.
Wow! What a curious take on the situation.
The facts are true. The toilets don’t work right now. But her perception of those facts 8-year-old not true. We will get it fixed. We will not become a family that can’t use the bathrooms in our own house. That’s where I draw the line.
But how often do we do the same thing in our lives? Crap happens — and we spin a story to make sense of it all, but the story isn’t true. Did you catch that? The facts of our stories are true, but what if our perception is not?
What Story Do You Believe You Are Living In?
Did you know that we live our lives telling stories? It’s how we make sense of the world. It’s how we join in with what’s happening. We are all
But what if shame is embedded in our story? Even more alarming, what if the enemy is actively using shame to distort and corrupt our story?
I’ve been learning over the past 6 months that shame is trying to tell me a story and it’s very different from God’s story.
Shame’s story is always some version of I’m not enough and I’m powerless to change my circumstances. Not only that, but I don’t have what it takes to tolerate this moment or circumstance. There must be something wrong with me.
Sound familiar? No wonder we feel intolerable to ourselves and others. And we’re not sure the feeling will ever end. Shame would like us trapped in this unending negative loop.
I’ve been there. I’ve felt that. I didn’t like it.
The Story of Redemption
But God’s story (the story of Redemption) is always some version of “I am enough”. Why? Because He loves me for who I am, not as I should be, He calls me a son and takes great delight in me. Not to mention, Jesus conquered shame! (Hebrews 12:2)
These are same words God spoke over Jesus at His baptism and I believe these are the same words God is speaking over us.
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be posting more on how to let go of our old shame story and begin
But if you can’t wait that long, check out my live teaching on this topic I recently shared at LifePointe Church in Kansas City.
FYI my teaching begins at the 30-minute mark. Check it out HERE.
Blessings!