Fig Leaves and Yokes: Finding Our Way Out of Shame to Shalom

Shame is a powerful emotion. This makes sense, considering it is one of the first negative human emotions we encounter in Scripture. After Adam and Eve sinned against God, their first instinct was to cover themselves with fig leaves and go into hiding. Since then, however, we've become more creative. Shame not only drives us into lives of masking and hiding, but also into lives of performance and spiritual over-functioning beneath ill-fitting yokes. In this episode, Elizabeth and Yana have an honest conversation about the many ways shame can shape our lives. Together, they explore how shame manifests in both subtle and obvious ways, our attempts to cover it with fig leaves or out-perform it with ill-fitting yokes, and how Jesus offers us a better way to live. If you struggle with shame or perfectionism, we hope this conversation will help you enter into the rest and freedom Christ died for you to enjoy. Questions Covered In This Episode: How would you define shame? What are some ways we try to cover our shame with fig leaves? What is a yoke? What ill-fitting yokes can we put on to try to out-perform our shame? What is the yoke Jesus offers? How does the gospel liberate us from shame? What are some practical ways we can come to Jesus in response to His invitation in Matthew 11:28-30? Key Passages: Genesis 2:25, 3:6-7; Matthew 11:28-30 Recommended Resources: Habits of Resistance by Elizabeth Woodson - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C7F4X9X2 Shame Interrupted by Ed Welch - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433556444 The Woodson Institute - https://thewoodsoninstitute.org Join the Conversation: Thanks for listening to Shalomies! We’d love to hear how the podcast is helping you pursue peace and wholeness in your own life. Share your thoughts, questions, or testimonies with us over on Instagram @shalomiespodcast. Elizabeth and Yana would love to hear from you! If you’re enjoying the show, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who could use a little more shalom this week. Follow Us:   / shalomiespodcast