Guided by the North Star
Reclaiming Faith After the Shadows of Shame
Guided by the North Star: Reclaiming Faith After the Shadows of Shame
There was a time in my life when shame was the voice that dictated every thought, every decision, every moment. It whispered that I was unworthy, that I had failed, that redemption was beyond reach. Shame has a way of magnifying faults and shrinking self-worth until you feel like a speck of dust in a galaxy of stars—a galaxy filled with everyone but yourself.
When I am out at night setting up my telescope for its next target, I can find myself wrestling with these same feelings, but then I remember to place my gaze on the North Star, shining steady in the dark sky. Not only is it critical to my night sky photography as an anchor for tracking the rotation of the earth for long camera exposures, and it’s not the brightest or easiest star to find, yet it is one with purpose—the one that guides. My heart stirs with a question: even amidst my shadows, could there still be a light pointing me in the right direction?
The Grip of Shame
Shame had wrapped itself around me like an anchor, pulling me down. It reminded me of every mistake, every failure, every moment I had fallen short. I couldn’t look in the mirror without feeling its weight. My worth felt shattered, and I was convinced that I could never rise above it. Even when bumping into people I have not seen in a while, people I love and care about, who may even at a time have loved and respected me. I let them down, and my flaws, my mistakes, my dark, sinful, broken heart was exposed. I had a choice: put out my life light forever or step into the only light that could save me.
So I made a choice beyond the failure; I remembered this verse:
Isaiah 43:1: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” These words pierced through the fog like a beacon. I had spent so long believing I was defined by my mistakes, but God had a different definition. He called me His—an identity unmarred by shame.
The Steadfast Light
The North Star has become more than just a celestial marker for me. It is a symbol of hope. Despite being surrounded by countless other stars, it holds its position, unwavering and constant, guiding travelers toward their destination. And so I asked myself: What if I allowed my faith to guide me like that? Could God’s truth lead me out of this darkness?
Psalm 34:5 spoke to me: “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Shame was never meant to be my identity. Instead, I was called to reflect the light of my Creator—to be radiant, even amidst brokenness.
Rediscovering Self-Worth
Reclaiming faith was not instantaneous. It required peeling back the lies shame had told me and replacing them with truth.
Romans 8:1 says, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Condemnation was the language of shame, but I was now learning the language of grace.
God’s grace whispered what shame could never say: You are loved. You are worthy. You are enough. It wasn’t easy to accept. There were nights when I doubted, when I felt that the shadows might consume me again. But the North Star remains a reminder that God’s love is steadfast, even when my faith wavers.
Pointing Life in the Right Direction
I began to realize that reclaiming faith wasn’t just about banishing shame—it was about redirecting my life toward something greater. Just as sailors navigate by the North Star, I needed to align my path with God’s purpose. Proverbs 3:5-6 became my compass: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Submitting to God’s guidance wasn’t about perfection. It was about trust—trust that even when the road seemed uncertain, He was leading me. Slowly, I began to see changes. My choices reflected hope rather than fear, and my relationships thrived in the absence of shame. My life started pointing toward the light. Now I lean into others who I see have shame all over their face, and I make a point to remind them of the truth. I never want to see anyone be alone in that shame, ever.
The North Star continues to shine, steadfast and reliable, just as God’s love remains constant. It reminds me that even in the darkest seasons, there’s a light that guides us home. Shame no longer has the power it once held over me, and my self-worth is rooted not in my achievements or failures but in the truth of who I am in Christ.
If you find yourself burdened by shame, I encourage you to look upward. Let the North Star remind you of the unwavering grace and love of God, and let His truth guide you back to faith, to self-worth, and to the path you were always meant to walk.