“I’m right 99.9% of the time…” Most people won’t say that out loud, or if they do it’s said kiddingly serious. And I understand the sentiment all too well. More times than I like to remember I have made major mistakes. I’ve given people sticks to beat me with as a result. The only thing harder than realizing I’ve failed is to confess/admit it to others. And that is a pride issue…
It is hard to admit error, fault, or failure. When we do, we try to shift blame like Adam did who said to God… “The woman who YOU gave me, SHE gave me the fruit and I ate.” Adam actually tried to blame God! We try to blame our parents… spouse… a difficult job… rebellious kids… physical maladies… or a hundred other things for being under pressure that causes our mistakes and failures.
Truth be told, we fail more times than we’re willing to admit. We’re wrong more times that we’d like to think. It really is possible that ever so often we are the one to blame for our problems and those in other’s lives. Sometimes we are at fault. Embracing that is like a ball slamming us in the face… it hurts.
There are seven truths I believe at the end of every day… no matter what has happened. One of them is: “I cannot mess up my life… and neither can anyone else… to the point of God not using me for His glory.”
Think of Peter. He cursed Jesus… publicly. That was the best thing he could do to prove he was not a follower of Jesus. Put yourself in that position. Imagine verbally cursing Jesus for everyone to hear. Immediately Peter realized his failure… and he wept bitterly as a result. BUT THEN…
After the resurrection Jesus sat down with Peter. Christ asked him three times… “Do you love me?” The first two times Jesus asked… “Do you love me unconditionally?” Peter replied, “I love you like a brother.” The third time Jesus asked, “Do you love me like a brother?” Peter said yes. The thing I want you to get from Jesus and Peter is this…
AFTER Peter’s failure, his usefulness was not over! Instead… because of Peter’s failure and restoration he was chosen and uniquely qualified to lead the early church. Jesus chose him as THE example of usefulness AFTER FAILURE! God STILL used Peter!
Have you failed… significantly? Have you done something that ripped out the heart of someone you love? Are you consumed with guilt still to this day? There is hope…
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)
You cannot mess up your life… and neither can anyone else… to the point of God not using you for His glory.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).