Living without shame
by Charles Bertelsmeier
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No-one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame (Psalm 25:3a).
Read Psalm 25:1–10
About 35 years ago, a lady attended a small group meeting connected to our church. We knew she was struggling with some issues, and she shared a few with us. We tried to make her feel welcome and kept praying for her. She continued attending our meetings for a while, but then we didn’t see her again. We later heard she had taken her own life.
Our emotional response was not unlike that expressed in The Voice translation of today’s verse: ‘Don’t embarrass any of us who went out on a limb for you.’
We thought we were trying to bring God’s love and support to this woman, but we felt let down by God when he didn’t answer our prayers and bring healing and hope to her. Did we fail to do all we could for this woman? Did we not have enough faith in our praying?
You may have had a similar experience where you bravely stepped out for God and then felt stranded when God didn’t act as you had expected or prayed for.
At the time, I was looking for answers and even went to one of our pastors for counselling. I don’t recall any advice he gave me, and I only remember coming away still feeling confused.
Since then, I have had 35 years of God travelling with me on my journey and growing me in my relationship with him. I am often reminded of the story of Job in the Old Testament, in which God did not give Job an answer for why God allowed Job to suffer. I accept that God does not owe me an answer as to why he let this woman take her own life.
Mentioning Job, the Bible is filled with many more stories of God’s involvement in the lives of a diverse range of people. Recalling these stories (or God reminding me of them) has helped me deal with situations in my own life, especially reminding me to bring them to a loving Heavenly Father and entrust them into his hands for resolution. The more we see God working in our lives, the more we grow in trusting his love and commitment to us.
It does help to read the Bible regularly to be reminded of God’s commitment to working in people’s lives, especially the Old Testament, which is full of these stories.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise to walk beside us on whatever journey you call us to take. I want to grow to know you more personally and in my trust in your love for me. Amen.
Charles is a retired engineer who has worked on communications projects for the air force, army and navy. He lives in a retirement village in the outer north-western suburbs of Sydney with his wife, Diane. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren, all of whom they love spending time with. Charles keeps busy caring for their pot plants and a community vegetable garden, researching his family history and volunteering at LifeWay Lutheran Church.
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