“Oh, they don’t keep score. They’re just playing for fun,” my friend told me when I asked about the outcome of her daughter’s soccer game. 

That seems to be an accurate reflection of our society today. We don’t want to cause anyone any anxiety, embarrassment, or shame. Don’t let anyone lose! That would be humiliating! Blue ribbons for all!

Are we doing our kids, and ourselves, a disservice when it comes to protecting everyone from dealing with these hard emotions? 

As we enter Holy Week, it brings to mind what Jesus had to endure.

• He was betrayed by one of His closest friends in the garden of Gethsemane and then abandoned by the others. (Matt. 26:47-57)
• He was falsely accused in an unjust trial. (Matt. 26:57-68)
• He was rejected by His chosen people, the Jews, who demanded to have Him executed. (Matt. 27:22-23)
• He was mocked, spat on, and beaten. (Matt. 27:27-31)
• He had to drag His own cross through the streets to the hill of Golgotha. (Matt. 27:32)
• He suffered excruciating pain from crucifixion, and the weight of all our sins on His shoulders. (Matt. 27:33-56)

I can’t imagine the extent of sorrow and humiliation that Jesus’s heart went through. 

The writer of Hebrews tells us, “For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, despising the shame.” (12:2)

Shame is a significant part of what Jesus suffered. And he bore it. Though He despised it, He endured it. For us. 

Is shame something we are willing to face and endure? Are we willing to battle embarrassment or humiliation to hold to our faith or profess the gospel or stand up for what is right? Are we preparing our kids to be willing to withstand shame in order to stand up for truth?

Charles Spurgeon charges us to harden our hearts:

“I heard of a prayer the other day. The good man said, ‘Lord, if our hearts are hard, make them soft; but if our hearts are too soft, make them hard.’ I know what he meant, and I think I can pray that last prayer for some of my friends who are so delicate that a sneer would kill them. May the Lord harden them till they can despise the shame!” 

I need this prayer! I am afraid that sometimes my heart is too delicate. I fear our world encourages a sensitive and soft-hearted mindset.  God, give me a heart that is hard and resilient against the arrows of shame the enemy throws my way!

Hebrews 12:3 says, “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

This week may we be attuned to the “opposition from sinners”  that Jesus suffered for our sake, both the physical pain and the emotional shame. Let us pray for hearts that are hard enough to endure shame and stand up for Truth.