When We Mess Up, We Should Not Give Up

                                                    When The Door Slams    

Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous, do not plunder their dwelling place; for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.                                         Proverbs 24:15-16 NIV

            The Bible is filled with heroes, but only one man was perfect--the Lord Jesus. All the other saints in the biblical record made mistakes, took detours, lost their way, faltered, wandered, and sinned. Abraham lied about Sarah. Noah got drunk. Moses lost his temper. Naomi traveled to Moab. David created scandals. Elijah fell into depression. Jonah ran away. Peter denied Christ. James and John squabbled about who was greatest. Even Paul admitted, "For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do" (Romans 7:15). 

            We must not tolerate spiritual failure in our lives. We should not sin so that grace may abound (see Romans 6:1). But on the other hand, when we mess up. we should not give up. Even when we wander, God is there. We have a merciful God. He knows how to draw us back, and the Lord God helps us to repent and grow from the experience. 

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV). 

            Think about this: When people talk about politicians, especially during heated races before elections, a frequently heard complaint is that politicians make promises they can't keep. Politicians can promise change, but only Congress can legislate change. Not keeping a promise one can keep is bad; making a promise one can't keep may be even worse. But that is true for all of us, not just politicians. "Better not to vow than to vow and not pay," Solomon wrote (Ecclesiastes 5:5).

           Affirmation: "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself"            (2 Timothy 2:13). When God says something or makes a promise--about forgiveness, eternal life, grace and mercy, His provision for our needs--His words are trustworthy. This is why the proverb says to trust in the Lord with all your heart. In times of trouble, trust in the promises of God--He will keep every promise He has ever made.   

Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the LORD and thank Him for His forgiveness 

                                                     Never Rest Ministries