Unashamed to Be Yours
Eight biblical questions that reveal whether your boldness is from Christ or rooted in pride.
There are moments in Scripture that gently shake us, not with thunder, but with the quiet weight of divine affection. Hebrews 11:16 is one of them:
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
It’s a stunning phrase God, not ashamed. We don’t often speak this way about Him. And yet, in the heart of a chapter known for its celebration of faith, we find this intimate assurance: God is not embarrassed, hesitant, or reluctant to be identified with His people. In fact, He is honored.
Faith That Honors God
Hebrews 11 is a sweeping testimony of those who lived “by faith.” From Abel to Abraham, Moses to Rahab, it tells of ordinary people who staked everything on a promise they couldn’t yet see. They weren’t perfect, but they persevered. And woven through this list is one dominant theme: they longed for something better something not of this earth.
Verse 16 captures that longing “they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” The passage doesn’t simply celebrate their piety or religious discipline; it honors their holy desire. These men and women were not content with what the world offered. They ached for something eternal, something of God.
And here’s where the miracle happens. God responds to that desire with honor. He’s not ashamed to be their God. He sees their longing, their hope, their homesickness for heaven, and He delights to be known as the One they yearn for.
What Does It Mean That God Is "Not Ashamed"?
It may seem strange at first. After all, how could God holy, perfect, all-sufficient ever be ashamed? He cannot be stained by our sin or diminished by our flaws. He is above every frailty. So why would the writer of Hebrews even frame this idea?
Because it’s not about God’s nature being threatened. It’s about God’s heart being revealed.
To say God is “not ashamed” is to say He is pleased, delighted, even proud to be ours. He’s not watching from a distance, reluctant to associate with our messy faith or unfinished obedience. He’s with us. He sees us reaching for Him—and He reaches back.
Desire That Moves Heaven
The contrast is clear: those who love the world shrink back. But those who desire a better homeland a place where God dwells are met with divine affection. They don’t need to earn God's pride; they simply need to long for Him more than the fading comforts of earth.
C.S. Lewis once remarked that our desires are not too strong but too weak. We are “half-hearted creatures,” he said, “fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us.” God isn’t put off by our desires. He made us to desire. But He is deeply honored when those desires are directed toward Him.
In Hebrews 11, we see that play out. These people wanted more than safety or approval. They didn’t just want religion they wanted God. And in response, He says, in essence:
“I’m honored to be your God. You want Me—and I want you.”
Prepared for Glory
The verse ends with this promise: “For He has prepared for them a city.” Not a vague, ethereal concept. A real, tangible reward. A city designed by God Himself, filled with His glory, teeming with His people.
This isn’t abstract theology. It’s personal. It tells us that our longing for eternity is not in vain. God has not only noticed it’s moved Him to act. He is preparing something better, something eternal, for those whose hearts are set on Him.
In a world where we often feel like strangers and exiles, that promise anchors our souls.
Our Desires Matter to God
This passage invites us to reframe how we see our longings. God doesn’t ignore them. He doesn’t scoff at them. He honors them when they’re aimed heavenward.
Are you tired of a world that never quite satisfies? Do you long for something more than this life can offer? Then you are in good company. You stand among a cloud of witnesses who desired a better country and who discovered that God was not ashamed to be called their God.
He isn’t ashamed of you either.
Your aching for more, your longing for a homeland that’s still to come, your hope in things unseen these things honor the Lord. And He will not let those hopes go unmet. He has prepared for you a city. One that shines with His glory and echoes with the joy of the redeemed.
So lift your eyes. Keep desiring the better country. The One who built it has His arms open wide not ashamed, but honored, to be your God.
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