Scripture: Isaiah 12:1-2 – “You will say in that day: I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.”
There are many times in my life when I “feel the cringe”, as my children would put it. Recent comedies are called “cringe comedy”, because they emphasize the embarrassment of the characters. We really sympathize with even the silliest figures, cringing our muscles along with them. I can really identify with this. I “cringe” when call someone by the wrong name or realize I have forgotten an important appointment. I feel like I want to curl up in a ball or to run away. I think many of us feel this way from time to time, and just want to escape from the judgment of the world. We feel like we have so little wiggle room that the slightest error might alienate us from our friends, our colleagues, or society at large.
We fear human judgment, but what about divine judgment, that sense of cringe writ on a universal scale. But while God holds us to a high standard, God also comforts us. God never lets us wallow in our shame or self-pity. This can be seen even in the most famous shame in the Bible, in the Fall of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. God does exile them from paradise, but God also clothes them in garments of skins. God covers their shame and gives them the hope for love and reconciliation.
This sense of forgiving our inner shame and our feelings of inadequacy is also found in the words of Isaiah. He says, “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, and you comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid.” God covers our shame and is present in us in our cringe. God says, “you are my beloved child. I forgive you and others will too.” So when you cringe in shame, when you feel tiny and want to run, remember that God always loves you and is always with you. With God at your side, you can face anything.
Prayer – Lord God, forgive me for the times that I have made mistakes and forgive me for not believing in myself. Guide me to inner strength and compassion for myself and others. Amen.
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