CHARIS SHALOM

Hey Bryan, great post brother.

An area of healing in my life in which God’s produced huge freedom has to do with bondage to what’s been called “toxic shame.” The feeling (deep down) that something’s inherently wrong with us as individuals making us feel compelled to perform to be acceptable enough, significant enough, or demonstrably capable enough.

Seems to be Satan’s greatest bondage since it’s normally below the conscious radar of most people. Also seems to be a deadly combination of how we were parented as children and our personal sinful coping choices afterward.

Couple of powerful books that deal with the topic: “Waking the Dead” by Eldredge. “Healing the Shame that Binds You” - by Bradshaw. “Drama of the Gifted Child” - by Miller.

It’s a universal problem, no doubt. One that touches us all and continually works to enslave our hearts to self-condemnation and self-destructive reactions to those areas of hurt within us.

Praise God for His desire to “heal the brokenhearted” (Is 61; Ps 147).

Thanks again for this post. I don’t think this subject should ever slip from our awareness or discussion.

Peace bro!

Thanks, John, and you’ve mentioned a coupule of books I’m not familiar with, so I’ll have to check them out. Not only did we get parented that way, but because of that modeling we also tend to parent that way… and the cycle continues. People think a father equals performance based reality versus a grace based reality and cannot accept grace.