Letting Go of Shame: The Labels God Never Meant for You (Part 1)

Introduction

There are labels the world gives us—and then there are the ones we quietly adopt ourselves. Labels formed in the silence after judgment, in the sting of rejection, or in the chaos of trying to do it all and feeling like we’re failing.

Whether it came from a friend, a pulpit, or your own inner critic, today is your invitation to lay it down.

God never called you by those names.

In this foundational post, I’m sharing five identity-warping labels many Christian women carry after heartbreak, loss, or spiritual burnout—and the Biblical truth that gently replaces each one.

👉 Need a place to start healing? Download the free 7-Day Identity Restoration devotional journal to help you rediscover your worth in Christ.

1. Broken → Restored and Becoming

After trauma, loss, or divorce, it’s easy to feel like you’re just fragments of who you once were. But Psalm 147:3 promises, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

This verse isn’t just poetic—it’s personal. God meets us in the shattering and begins a rebuilding that honors every part of our story. Your brokenness isn’t a blemish; it’s the place where restoration begins.

2. Unworthy → Chosen and Beloved

When pain whispers that you’re not enough—whether through abuse, infertility, or job loss—it can feel like your value has expired.

But Ephesians 1:4 reminds us, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.”

God’s choosing didn’t begin after you had it all together. It began before you ever felt the sting of shame.

3. Failure → Redeemed

Maybe the marriage ended. The business collapsed. The healing didn’t come. You wonder if you missed it—God’s plan, His favor, His love.

Romans 8:28 assures us, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”

Failure in the world’s eyes is often the exact soil God uses to grow resilience, wisdom, and deeper trust.

4. Hurt by Christians or Church→ Loved by God, Not Defined by People

If your pain came from those claiming to speak for God, the wounds cut especially deep. Judgment from a pulpit or gossip in a pew can feel like spiritual exile.

But Isaiah 61:1 says Jesus came "to bind up the brokenhearted.”

People may have misrepresented Him, but Jesus is the healing you deserved all along.

5. Disqualified → Still Called

After trauma or a complicated past, it can feel like your shot at ministry or purpose has passed.

Romans 11:29 is clear: “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”

God doesn’t retract your calling because of what happened—He redeems it and still invites you to lead.

A Gentle Invitation to Begin Again

If even one of these labels struck a nerve, pause. Breathe. Whisper: “God, what do You say about me instead?”

You don’t have to carry what God never assigned to you.

👉 The 7-Day Identity Restoration is your space to release shame and anchor into who you are in Christ.

Wishing you grace in who you’re becoming,

Alberta