My heart was set on this little 5th grader. He was Hispanic, short like me, and he was cute. I wrote him a love letter and got up the courage to give it to him at recess. What I didn’t understand was that what was about to happen would open the door for the enemy to torment me.  

I placed the letter in his hand; he opened it and began to laugh. He showed his friends, who also laughed, and he proceeded to rip the letter up in front of everyone and said I was ugly and he could never love me.  

Shame, fear, control and rejection entered into my life that day, and I carried this feeling of not being loved or worthy of being loved. I felt shame.  

Shame is a painful emotion caused by the consciousness of guilt, of not feeling worthy. There is a feeling of never being able to measure up. Fear dominates typically the person’s life who has shame. There is a fear that someone will find out how inadequate you are. As a result, the person tries and control all circumstances to prevent this from happening. Perfectionism, OCD or isolation may result.

Jesus took all guilt, shame, rejection and abandonment on the cross, and He has given you His glory and acceptance. You are a child of the King.   

You are worthy. How do I know? Because He says so…. “…you are precious in my sight…” Isaiah 43:4

You are not a mistake, “For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:13-14