They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed (Psalm 34:5)

Shame: If anyone ever found out about it, I would die! It is likely that our faces reveal much more than we want them to. This is more obvious at times than others. For someone with eyes to see, deep pain be it physical or emotional, can be clearly seen on the face. We know this at some level, and many times and in many ways we deal with our pain and our shame by wearing masks. But when we do, our faces will not be radiant.

Shame is a very powerful emotion, and the desire not be exposed can lead us into isolation from both God and man. Shame is magnified by the darkness, but diminishes in His light. Shame comes in many forms, it can come from something we have done, something done to us, and or from a lack of self-worth. But wherever it comes from, the first step in healing, in being released from it, it is to bring it to the One who bore our shame for us on the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Crucifixes depicting a loincloth around His waist do not do justice to the shame He bore. In addition to the shame and pain of crucifixion, He was humiliated by being publicly stripped naked!

In James 5:16 we are told to confess one to another, and to pray for one another so that we might be healed. And I want to say this morning that I have witnessed the truth of this over and over. One of the things that we do at times in our fellowship, is to gather around one who is hurting, lay hands on them and pray. And time after time we see a significant difference in that person’s countenance. And more often than not it can be described as radiant.

Father, the verse comes to mind “we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). There is something so very freeing about transparency (unveiled face). And it starts Lord with looking to You. In order to do this Father we need to be honest with ourselves, with You and with others. It can be scary Lord, but the rewards are worth it. Help us Lord in Jesus Name Amen