Shameless. Does this word describe you? Is it even possible to live a life free of guilt and shame? Is it possible to have a marriage where you are both free and safe to be vulnerable? The answer is yes. Here is how.

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! Welcome to the blog! If you are new here Nevertheless I Live is a weekly (sorta…) series I do that is a bit more personal and rambley. I don’t think I posted that last month was my one year wedding anniversary! It’s really crazy to me that a whole year has passed but at the same time it’s crazy to me that it’s only been a year…weird.

Anyways, Mike and I have been study and contemplating the whole concept of marriage lately. I have been overwhelmed by how much the Lord is teaching us. One thing the Lord brought back to my mind and even further expounded upon is Genesis 2:25. Three years ago I decided to go on a 90 day social media fast and during that fast I was going to read the entire Bible from cover to cover.

It was this crazy desire that just popped into my heart one day that I couldn’t shake. I was wasting so much time on my computer that I decided to turn it off and use that time to read. So I remember I posted on Facebook, tumblr, twitter and who knows where else was cool back then and told everyone that I would be gone for a few months. I sat down and began to read the Bible. Now to read the whole Bible in 90 days you have to read 14-16 chapters a day. I sat down for day 1’s reading and I made it to Genesis 2:25 and just sobbed. It says, “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”

After reading that verse I doubt any of you are in tears. That’s okay. Let me explain what this verse did in my spirit when I read it that day. In Genesis 1 we read the creation account and we see that everything was good. Then we read where God made woman from man. Then that last verse, “They were both naked and they were not ashamed.” Spoiler alert! The next chapter of Genesis is where everything changes. Man falls. Sin enters. Shame contaminates everything. So this moment where they were both naked and they were not ashamed is powerful.

When I read this on September 3, 2012 I instantly realized that I had never felt that way. Unashamed. This verse is more than nudity. They were naked in every way. They were completely exposed and they were completely vulnerable. Everything about them was out in the open and they had not a shred of shame. There is so much about me and what happens in my mind that if I were that exposed….well I don't even need to be that exposed to be ashamed.

Now you have to fast forward to the cross. On the cross every one of our sins, all of our guilt and all of our shame was placed on Jesus and He bore it all. This state that we see Adam and Eve in is now attainable again. I was overwhelmed by the fact that I could lay down all the shame I had carried.

Now enter marriage! Back then this verse spoke to my life in general and my relationship with God. My hearts desire was to not have any part of my heart or who I was be off limits to God. I want to be completely naked (figuratively) before Him and know His sacrifice removes my shame. Now that I am married however, it goes further. My husband and I are one. I not only want every part of me to be known, loved and accepted by God, I now want every part of who I am to be known, accepted and loved by my husband. I want he and I to be completely naked (I mean this mostly figuratively) before each other and God and know that we have nothing to be ashamed of.

That’s what we all want right? To get to be ourselves even at moments when that’s not pretty and know that there is a love that wont shrink back or waiver! We find that first in God and then in partnering with Him we can begin to love our spouses with the same unconditional love.

Marriage is awesome y’all. I am thankful that God reminds us of that truth! I hope you guys have an awesome weekend. I am pretty excited about Monday’s post so make sure you come back! If not, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

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