Our own shame impacts how we guide collegiates. It is important for us individually to deal with our own shame and admit our downfalls. These downfalls however become aspects in our life that God uses to strengthen our relationship with Him. We can use these experiences to help college students deal with their own shame and to enable us to know what it is like to experience shame.
What are some areas students may feel shame over?
· Relationships
· Laziness
· Indulging (food, shopping, etc)
· Body Harm
· Sexual Sins
· Habitual Lying
· Family Situations
· Childhood Experiences
· Faking
· Previous Life changing decisions (Abortion, Divorce, Trials of Suicide)
· Addictions
What are some concrete ways to help students cope with shame?
· Help students admit their shame and their true feelings about their shame
· Share your own story and how you walk through the shame with Christ
· Reading Scripture on Christ’s restoration of brokenness
· Prayer and encouragement
· Professional Counseling
· Build a community of security where students can share in honesty their shame
· Affirm truths of who individuals are in Christ
How can you use shame as a means of sharing the Gospel?
The Gospel can be shared through how all of humanity fell and how God restore our shame and gives us a new life in Him. We see even with the fall of man how the effects of sin are still impacting us today, but Christ made a way for us to be anew. Experiences of shame will have its impact on us, but like the imagery share in class on Humpy Dumpy, we can be made whole again, but we will have those cracks that have impacted us. God knows our cracks and cares about those, but He has also sent his son who was our propitiation for the cost of those sins. Therefore, we can walk free of shame because our God has set us free. Overall, help students connect their story with God's story.
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