Ashamed?

Romans 10:11 pulls a hybrid quote out of Isaiah 28:16 and Isaiah 49:23: "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." That's cool...but why do I often feel shame as a Christian? It's easy for me feel ashamed when my lifestyle is so different than that of my unbelieving friends. However, if I stop and think about it, it's NOT that I'm put to shame for believing on Christ, it's that I am ashamed of Christ. How ridiculous. When I am ashamed of Christ, it's because my focus is on pleasing man and not pleasing God. If I go about my life with a God-centered, eternal perspective, I will have no reason to fear and no reason to be ashamed. That doesn't mean that others will always love me and never criticize me, but it means that my hope is placed in something that will not let me down, that will not shame me. When my life on earth is over and I stand before God, I won't be put to shame because I have believed in Christ!