HOW TO OVERCOME EMBARASSING MOMENTS

BY BETH SKANDERUP
VGP Choir Director 

We all have embarrassing moments. Times when we open our mouths when they should remain closed, or you are about to sing a special and you have no idea how the song goes, or you put your dress on backwards and wore it out to the meeting! Yep, I have done all of the above. The thing is, how you get past these embarrassing moments without being angry, offended, or becoming down on yourself makes all the difference in how you will go forward.

Now, if you have a personality like mine, not many do, (probably a good thing) then you simply smile, pour another cup of coffee and keep on. However, this is not how most of us react. I confess, I have grown a bit in this area, from many ‘embarrassing moments’. I believe part of the ability I have to get past these things is a sense of humor. The God given ability to laugh at yourself and the situation, then continue on. I can laugh at these events now, and yes I did back when they happened, but I also carried the sting of that embarrassment. The trick then is, how do I live with that embarrassment and still move forward with grace, victory and humility?

• Realize who you are. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV84) We are new creations, let us not look at ourselves like we are not.
• Realize that embarrassment is closely attached to pride.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18, NIV84) It is difficult to admit we are imperfect and prone to both mistakes and sin. The situations described above were not sin in themselves, but the damaged pride that snuck in to leave me with hurt and shamed. The moment pride stepped in sin was revealed.

• Embarrassment also is about ‘fear of man’. I was in the presence a large group of my peers and afraid they would think less of me or think me a fool.“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.” (Proverbs 29:25, NIV84)
• Know that God is changing you. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)
• Don’t give up, He has started a work and He will complete it! “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6, NASB95)

 

• Remember God’s point of view is different than yours. You are His little child, growing and learning. A child is often embarrassed by failure or mistakes. The loving parent watching and encouraging does not condemn or reject the child. How many times have you laughed at a little child trying and having a spectacular failure? ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9, NKJV)

We will fail many times until we have been made perfect. It is so easy to be discouraged and feel condemned when we fail by falling short or sinning. We expect so much of ourselves and so want to be more than we already are. Remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and are called according to His purposes. (Rom. 8:28) He knows about every one of our failures and
embarrassments before they happen and hasn’t rejected or given up on you.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” (1 John 3:18–21, NIV84)

So, the world does not end, God’s love for us does not fail or change and you might feel like you want to die, but you really don’t! You are going to live and see the goodness of God!