Recently I have talked to two different women on two separate occasions and heard stories from their past. One woman explained to me that she had no problem talking to people of the church about her past, after all, it was all stuff that had happened and there was no point in denying it or pretending it didn't exist. The second woman admitted things from her past and was quite ashamed. She told me that she rarely talked about it because she was so ashamed.
When talking to the first woman, I was bolstered. I talked about some less than stellar moments from my past and how, although I didn't consistently proclaim them, I tried not to shy away either. Because if I didn't admit my checkered past, then how could I adequately describe Jesus' grace, forgiveness, and redemption?
In the discussion with the second, I was deeply saddened by her grief and shame. I was reminded and reminded her of the women of the Bible who had less than glowing pasts (and presents, in some cases).
Mary, Jesus' mother, was an unwed, pregnant teen. Can you imagine the conflict within her? Here she was counted faithful by God Almighty, called to bear His Son, and yet, she had to deal with some of the looks and opinions of others? My main take-away here is the fact that if I am adhering to God's will and doing as He would have, then the opinions and rejections of others are no match!
Mary Magdalene was a woman who was possessed by (seven) demons. Can you imagine the shame that she may have felt after being delivered from that? But we have no record of that. We have stories of her following the one who redeemed her, ministering and remaining faithful. There was no time for shame. She had work to do.
Composite Magdalen, Frans Francken II, 1637
The woman caught in adultery wasn't condemned by Jesus or stoned. She was forgiven. She went on her way with the command to, "sin no more." Isn't that all we can do? When we repent and are forgiven, we must make sure that we have truly turned away and no longer commit that sin.
Then we have the story of the Samaritan woman at the well! Oh, how this story moves my heart. She had everything against her. She was a woman and a Samaritan. She had had many husbands and was currently living with one to whom she wasn't married. Yet, Jesus still talked to her, forgave her, and commissioned her to go and spread His message. She wasn't disqualified because of her sin. No, it was because she had been forgiven much that she was able to love much!
You see, the Bible is full of people with horrible stories in their past, both men and women. We can't forget our past because it is part of us. It has shaped us and created who we are. We can't forget, but we also can't let it rule us or let it hold us back. We have to see it for what it is. It is a small part of our beautiful story, part of God's ultimate story of redemption. If we have nothing to be redeemed from, what need have we of a redeemer?
So, Sisters, please don't let your past continue to hold sway and shame over you. Don't let it guide you and hider you from the work that God may be calling you to. Be as free as Jesus has called you to be when He released you from the bondage to sin. See your beauty in Him and let that be the greater part of your story!
And don't forget Rahab the harlot was grafted into the very lineage of Jesus Himself.
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