Lift Up Your Head: Joy in the Face of Shame

Shame has been called the most unendurable of sentiments. Shame hurts so much that we do everything we can to stop the pain and to keep other people from realizing that we have it. The cover-ups we use end up hurting other people and can be the root cause of marital breakups, workplace conflicts, racial tensions, and church splits. In contrast to guilt, which can lead to repentance and reconciliation, shame leads to isolation and continuing problems.

Everyone feels shame from time to time,...