Shame is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. “Shout for joy, O barren one, she who has not given birth; Break forth into joyful shouting and rejoice, she who has not gone into labor [with child]! For the [spiritual] sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord. “Enlarge the site of your tent [to make room for more children]; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not spare them; Lengthen your tent ropes And make your pegs (stakes) firm [in the ground]. For you will spread out to the right and to the left, And your descendants will take possession of nations And will inhabit deserted cities. “Do not fear, for you will not be put to shame, And do not feel humiliated or ashamed, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, And you will no longer remember the disgrace of your widowhood. Isaiah 54:1‭-‬4 AMP The fear of shame enslaves many from progress. No one wants to be ashamed or disgraced. But if, for some instances, you have encountered shame, You can rise above it. Jesus, the author of our faith, Did it. He despised the shame of the cross because of the awaiting glory. [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our hope to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. Hebrews 12:2 AMP Disregard shame and rise above it in Jesus' name. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/pastor-lucy-paynter/support