29. The Voice of Shame That Used To Haunt Me & How I Broke Free
Why Owning My Weaknesses Became the Key to Healing
There was a time when the loudest voice in my life wasn’t from someone else—it was from within.
It was that voice of shame, the one many of us know all too well. The inner critic that sneers, "You’re not enough." After years of being shamed as a child, that voice followed me into adulthood. Every mistake, every failure, every moment of weakness—it was there. Telling me I was dumb. A failure. Unworthy.
I thought there were a few others in that struggle. But when I created a survey for a presentation on our identity in Messiah, I was shocked. Almost every single person admitted to having the same voice of self-condemnation. The Accuser tries to define us by shame—but our Savior defines us by His grace and His love.
For me, the turning point began when I started speaking the truth of Scripture back to that voice. Verses like Romans 8:1 became my armor. I repeated them until the condemning voice started to fade. It took time. Perseverance. But day by day, truth began to drown out shame.
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ~Romans 8:1
And then—something unexpected happened. I learned the power of praise. After repenting, I started thanking Abba not only for His forgiveness, but for my faults too. Yes, you read that right. I thanked Him for the very weaknesses that once filled me with shame.
Why? Because I came to believe He allowed them for my good. They keep me humble. They keep me leaning on Him. They make me more compassionate. And they magnify His mercy.
It’s strange, isn’t it? That something like thanking God for our flaws could bring freedom. But it did. It broke the cycle. The shame that once shut down my joy, lost its grip when I stepped into the light of gratitude.
Shame wants to trap us in a vicious cycle. We sin, then we feel guilt, then we spiral. But Yeshua/Jesus didn’t die for us to live in that prison. He came to set us free.
But if we confess our sins to Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. ~1 John 1:9 NLT
I used to be ashamed of my flaws. But now I realize—owning them and thanking YAH for using them in my life is the very thing that robs shame of its power.
Conviction brings change. But shame only brings chains.
I’ll never forget the day I overdid it—excited about my healing, I ate too much, too fast. And the next day, my body crashed. I tried to stay positive, but I couldn’t shake the disappointment.
I finally asked Abba what it was. He showed me—underneath it all, I wasn’t trusting that even this setback could be used for my good.
So I thanked Him for my disappointment. I thanked Him for my lack of self-control. And then—He met me with mercy.
The heaviness lifted. Joy returned. And even my healing got back on track faster than I expected. Within days, I was able to eat again in moderation.
The enemy has no weapon against praise.
Let’s not hide from our struggles. Let’s hand them to the One who transforms them.
Call to Action
Let’s thank Him—not just for what’s going right, but even for what we wish was different. There’s freedom there.
My heart is confident in You, O God; my heart is confident. No wonder I can sing Your praises!
~Psalm 57:7 NLT
This Poll Is Anonymous and I Value Your Opinion :)
The Mission
I believe YAH has given me a beautiful and humbling assignment: to write a book about the power of praise—how it prepares the way for His miracles in our everyday lives.
This book won’t be mine alone. It’s a shared offering, a woven collection of real stories that reveal just how deeply God meets us when we choose to praise Him—even in the hardest moments.
With each testimony I share, you’ll find a simple survey where you can cast your vote: should this story be included in the book? I’d love to know what speaks to your heart.
And I’d be so honored to hear from you. Have a question or a thought? Feel free to leave a comment or message me directly. And if you have a praise testimony of your own, I’d love to read it! Your story could be the one that brings someone else the hope they’ve been waiting for.
Let’s build this book together—for His glory and for the encouragement of our Brothers and Sisters around the world.
Because when we praise Him, we shine light into dark places. And when we share that light, it multiplies.
Let’s give the world more hope. One testimony at a time.
Oops. In my response I referred to this writer as “he”, but I think it is “she”. Sorry, sister Substack writer!