You know that mistake. That mistake you thought ruined everything. What if it all turned out for the best?
Rerun
The scene in my office played like a rerun every week. Different pregnant teenager, chewing her cuticles, staring at the floor; different mom, ramrod straight spine, death grip on her purse, both convinced it was a mistake that ruined everything. I sat in front of these two every week, hundreds of times. My mission: tether emotions to earth until they figure out the mistake won’t ruin them, though it changes everything.
Hope grows
Over the ensuing 40 weeks I measured the growth of her belly and smiled with satisfaction at the growth of excitement about the mistake. It certainly changed everything, but that wriggling, crying newborn didn’t ruin everything. Instead, the shame-filled eyes brimmed with wonder and the hard hands released the purse to softly caress newborn skin. That mistake became a tremendous blessing.
Unexpected consequences
They should have known better, even in the 11th century. Despite the soft clay, they laid the foundation and built the watch tower. Not surprisingly it began to sink and the tower leaned. It was a mistake, but it didn’t ruin everything. In fact, Pisa would have no economy without its iconic mistake which is one of the greatest photo ops in the world.
We all make mistakes
So that mistake you made, yeah that one, what if God really does use all things for good? You’re not the exception you know.
Bring your mistake, and the cascade of mistakes that followed, Bring them to the One who redeems all things. He really does.
2 Corinthians 5:16, “…anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone…” MSG
That mistake you thought ruined everything
It’s up to you. Admit your mistake, trust God’s plan and redeeming power and accept forgiveness for:
That failure
That relapse
That accident
That secret
That lie
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us ours sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” HCSB
We are not condemned
Or you can hang on to your shame, clutch unforgiveness of others or yourself and stay in the pit of self condemnation. That mistake you thought ruined everything will, but only if you let it. But you don’t have to.
Romans 8:1, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
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