“Over and over again shame loves to keep us hidden; shame breathes in that secret place and it loves to isolate us.”

Aubrey Sampson tells us how to recognize and overcome shame in our lives in order to walk in freedom.

One of the most powerful steps we can take to overcome shame in our lives: Expose it.

“One of the most powerful things that we can do to overcome shame is to begin to share our shame stories with safe people. You don’t have to go talking about trauma in your life or just your feelings with every single person you meet…but if you can begin talking to a loved one about the shame that you may have been hiding, it is such a powerful step towards experiencing God’s kindness.”

We also learn why it’s important to sever unhealthy connections. She shares an example from a woman she recently talked to:

“I just talked to a woman last week who told me that she went through her old journals and old photos; things that were keeping her connected to some really shameful memories in the past. She actually took them out to the garbage cans and she watched the dump truck take them away.”

Actions speak louder than words.   

“If there are any healthy connections in your life; whether it is maybe someone on Facebook, maybe you have some token you’re holding on to from old relationships…it is time to throw those things away. Say a physical goodbye to the shame in your past, in order to birth new life in the present.”

Although it may be difficult, we need to cut any ties that trigger shame in our lives.

“Sometimes we hang on to things because we think they’re important or they tell the story of us, but honestly is it is a powerful statement to refuse to let shame take up any space in your life.”

Aubrey shares another powerful step to ridding shame out of our lives: Seek wise counsel.

“If you have been spending years wrestling with shame and have not experienced any real change; if your relationships haven’t improved, if your understanding of who you are in Christ hasn’t improved, if you feel inadequate, etc., now is the time to go see a Christian counselor. It’s one of the most powerful things to find a good professional who can help really recover the parts of yourself that listening to shame for years has stolen.”

“There is no shame in seeing a counselor, seeing a professional Christian therapist, you are worth doing it. I would say Go for it!”

Aubrey’s book is titled  .

Key scripture: Psalm 34:5

Featured songs: The Maker by Chris August; Glow in the Dark by Jason Gray; Live Forever by Matthew West

Highlight: Steps to overcoming shame

Overcoming shame