When Shame Creeps in But God Speaks Louder

There was a time I carried shame.
I had poured everything I had into my work, my time, my prayers, my energy and still, the results didn’t reflect the labor I gave. I wasn’t just disappointed with the outcome; I was disappointed by how others responded to it. I felt it in the silence. The stares. The whispers. And that’s when the questions started creeping in:
Am I not good enough?
God, is this really what I’m supposed to be doing with the time You gave me?
I knew He placed me there. But the math wasn’t exactly "mathing".
And for a moment, I wondered if that was a sign to give up or to pivot.

When Disappointment Turns Inward

For months, I allowed the results of that season to sink me into a new low. I wasn’t just carrying discouragement, I was carrying shame. And one day, God checked me. He revealed something I wasn’t ready to admit, even shame can be a sin. Because when shame causes you to question your identity in Christ, that’s no longer humility, it’s disbelief. And disbelief, especially in who He says you are, can quietly distance you from truth.

Doubt Isn’t Always Harmless

God reminded me through Ephesians 2:1–10 that I am His workmanship.
Created in Christ Jesus for good works, yes, but saved by grace, not performance.
Not likes.
Not scores.
Not outcomes.
So when I let the numbers or people’s reactions define my worth, I was essentially saying, God, I don’t trust what You said about me.
To break it down clearly, does doubting yourself mean you’re doubting Christ? Sometimes, yes. When He says:

You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14)
You will do even greater works than these (John 14:12)
I can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13)
… and we still question if we’re worthy or capable, we’re not just doubting ourselves, we’re doubting His word.

Shame is Sneaky, But God Speaks Louder

Shame will seep in slowly but unapologetically. It will have you thinking your worth is in your work. But that’s not the Gospel.
Romans 8:1 says: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
So why was I condemning myself? Why was I letting a project define me?
Because I tied my identity to productivity. I opened the door to the enemy when I started agreeing with the lies rooted in my own insecurities.

People-Pleasing is Not Purpose

This morning, it hit me, some of us are burned out not because we don’t love what we do, but because we believe we have to do it to be worthy and feel unprepared to set boundaries because we have already set the tone for what people should expect of us. When I decided to stop playing that game, people became resentful because they’re still caught up with playing it. But I’ve learned: people-pleasing is not purpose. It’s a form of self-preservation that manipulates outcomes. It’s exhausting and unsustainable. Because people can like you one day and be done with you the next.
Let them talk.
Let them assume.
Let them misunderstand.
Our job is to honor our identity in Christ, to walk in obedience, not perfection.

What I Know Now

I’m still growing. Still healing. I’m investing in my skills, but not for the applause. For alignment. For Kingdom assignment. Excellence, to me, used to mean performance. Now, I define it like this:

Excellence is obedience.
Excellence is peace.
Excellence is stewardship.
Not grinding for validation, but growing in grace. Not hustling for approval, but honoring my assignment. Not chasing numbers, but choosing faithfulness even when it’s quiet.

What Never Changes

If you’re in a season where your results don’t match your effort, stay anchored in truth.
You are still God’s masterpiece. Keep showing up. Keep developing your craft. But let your validation come from heaven, not the office. Because culture may teach people to only value you when you're useful, but that’s not Kingdom culture. 

You’re already valuable.
You’re already chosen.
You’re already enough.

Not because of what you do, but because of Whose you are.