2. Underneath Are the Everlasting Arms
How God Lifts You From Shame Into Healing
This is the nonfiction companion to Chapter 2 of the Birth Pangs of the End Times novel.
Please read Chapter 2 first — it’s free. This nonfiction companion chapter is based on Katie’s story there.
“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
God’s heart is near to those who feel crushed, ashamed, or rejected. He does not leave us in shame; He draws us into grace, forgiveness, and restoration — once we admit our need.
Katie’s Story
In chapter 2, Katie returns home to Kataan hoping she can quietly move on from the abortion she had in Ketchikan. She still clings to the idea that maybe no one will find out, and life can go back to normal. She thinks of herself as the victim in her situation, betrayed and abandoned by the young man she trusted and gave herself to.
But her Aunt Ella, the clan matriarch, confronts her with the rumors circulating through the village. Katie, caught off guard and overwhelmed, confesses the truth.
Until this moment, Katie avoided facing the full weight of what she’s done. But now, withering under Aunt Ella’s condemnation, shame overwhelms Katie like a tsunami — not only because of her aunt’s disapproval, but because, for the first time, Katie realizes she is guilty of violating her own values, polluting her family’s honor, and sinning against God.
Her world shatters. Katie escapes out into the cold Alaskan night, overwhelmed with guilt and hopelessness. She curls up in the rain, whispering to God, asking Him to let her die.
And yet — God meets her there. As she succumbs to hypothermia, she drifts into unconsciousness. Then Katie sees a radiant, angelic figure she perceives to be her father. Without words, He communicates unconditional love, protection, and purpose. This encounter infuses her with a glimmer of hope.
But God doesn’t just meet her spiritually; He reaches her through His people. God leads the Kusteels to find Katie, nurse her back from hypothermia, and speak life-giving words of grace over her. The next day, Uncle Andy returns to fly her back to Ketchikan — where she'll have a chance to rebuild, to heal, and restart life on a new path.
Katie’s journey is just beginning, but her first turning point comes in this chapter: when she confesses, when she acknowledges her sinfulness, when she opens her heart to receive God’s free gift of grace.
Theological Exploration
What Does the Bible Say About Shame?
Shame becomes redemptive when it breaks through our selfish pride and brings us to repentance. Until Katie confessed her sin, she still hoped to avoid consequences and move on unchanged. But once confronted, she owns the truth: she truly is a sinner who deserves judgment. Only then does she feel godly sorrow — the kind Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Godly grief and repentance open the door for God's grace to reach us. God does not remove our shame by ignoring our sin, but by forgiving it when we humbly and sincerely repent.
Angelic Encounters?
In saying “her father’s angel” I'm not trying to make a theological statement about what angels are, but I am hoping to use a little 'artistic license' to provoke your curiosity to research the topic of angels on your own.
Why? Because most Christians today are biblically ignorant about angels, Their angelology comes from tradition and pop culture, not Scripture.
For example:
Angels don't have wings.
Seraphim and Cherubim have wings, but they are not angels.
In Acts 12:15, when Peter knocks on the door, the apostles say, “It must be his angel” — revealing that early believers had a different (and mysterious) understanding of the relationship between angels and men.
In the Bible, angels often appear as men (Genesis 18–19; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10).
In many Bible passages, men are called angels, and angels are called men.
We must let the Bible — not myths, art, or traditions — shape our understanding about angels.
Our Self-Image
At her lowest, Katie feels worthless — and in a sense, she’s right. On her own, she is broken, guilty, and helpless. But here’s the heart of the gospel: God meets us when we are at the end of ourselves.
Years ago, it was at such a low point in my life that God’s Spirit spoke the following verse to me, assuring me that I’d hit rock bottom in my trial and from there things would improve.
“Underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Through David and Anna Kusteel, God physically saves Katie from death, then ministers to her through their love and wisdom.
Only by going through this “death” experience can Katie truly start over as a new person. She no longer clings to her own innocence; she acknowledges her sin, her helplessness, and her need for grace and forgiveness. This humility becomes the soil in which God plants new life.
Practical Takeaways
Don’t hide your sin, or evade responsibility for it. Confess it to God.
Repentance isn’t when you’re sorry — it’s when you change.
God’s love doesn’t wait for you to “clean up” — He meets you when you’re broken.
Fresh starts often come through people God sends into your life — receive them as part of His grace.
Reflection and Prayer
Reflection Questions
Are you hiding any sin from God, hoping they’ll just fade away?
Have you gone through this “death” experience, like Katie did in this chapter, so that you started over as a new person by God’s grace?
Where do you get your sense of worth — from other people’s opinions, or from God?
Can you think of a time God met you at your lowest?
Prayer
Almighty Father,
I have sinned. I have hidden from You in my shame. But now I come to You honestly and confess my sins. Please forgive me and restore me to Your fellowship by Your grace. Help me receive Your love with humility. Let me walk forward in the fresh path You provide. I pray this in the name of Jesus, my Savior. Amen.