A change of garment

Alfred facilitates a support group called “A brighter place” for young people dealing with loneliness and shame. Last month, he was invited to speak to some inmates at the prison.

During the meeting, he shared his own experience of loneliness. His parents died when he was young, so he lived with a family who later adopted him. He never felt he belonged to his adopted family. He had low self-esteem and performed poorly at school. These experiences resulted in feelings of shame and loneliness for a long time. Everything changed when he met a new friend who introduced him to the power of the gospel.

Alfred then encouraged the inmates to identify objects or situations that could trigger loneliness or feelings of shame for them.

An inmate explained that he had been working as a laboratory technician before he was found guilty of an offence at work. His wife has not spoken to him in years as she was angry and ashamed of him. She has also prevented the kids from contacting him.

“This prison uniform constantly reminds me of loneliness and shame. I am desperate for a change of this prison uniform to my laboratory work clothes”, the inmate said.

The Bible paints a picture of a garment that brings shame, guilt, and loneliness.

Zechariah had a vision where he saw himself with the filthy garment of sin. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes (Zechariah 3:4).

Unconfessed sins made David feel lonely. Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate (lonely) and afflicted (Psalms 25:16).

In Ezra’s prayers, we see a link between sin, guilt, and shame. And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens (Ezra 9:6).

When we discover that we have the garment of sin on us, a right response is a change of garment – by putting off the garment of sin and asking God to put on us the garment of salvation and righteousness. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth … put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him (Colossians 3:8 – 10).

Putting on the garment of salvation and righteousness can only occur through trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and asking Him to wash us clean from all sins. …He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness… (Isaiah 61:10).  

Song: “Return to Me” by Don Moen.