With the London Olympics right around the corner, talk surrounding the games is just beginning to ramp up. That generally means people talk about past Olympic greats like Jesse Owens, Aleksandr Karelin or Mark Spitz. But there is another list of athletes whose names appear time after time in Olympic discussions, they are the disgraced athletes who ended their careers not on the winners’ platform, but in shame.
Everyone experiences shame at one time or another. Sometimes it is merited. Sometimes, it is not. Jim Thorpe was stripped of his 1912 Olympic medals only to have the International Olympic Committee restore them 30 years after his death. His story paints a graphic picture of the loss of shame and the joy of restoration even if it comes late.
Shame is a ruthless predator that stalks us without mercy. It hurts most when we feel shamed by those we love. Sometimes shame comes from a spouse. Sometimes it comes from a family member. It may come from the work place or even society as in the case of disgraced athletes losing an Olympic medal.
One thing is certain, if you are experiencing shame in your life, you long for a way out. You probably hope for someone to come along and love you again as though the problem that caused your shame never happened.
There is real a solution to shame. Jesus Christ offers anyone who comes to Him and asks the opportunity to find forgiveness and overcome shame. He took your shame on His shoulders when men nailed Him to the Cross. He offers you a new beginning and the promise of new life.
Shame destroys. It destroys our hope. It destroys our futures. It destroys our trust.
Jesus can restore each of these things when we ask Him for His forgiveness and a new beginning. If you need a way past shame, if you need a new beginning, you can ask Jesus to forgive you for the wrong things you have done and start fresh. Sound good? Simply click the button below that says “Yes, I prayed the Prayer” and someone will contact you soon.
