Everyone Messes Up

It shouldn’t surprise us (and yet we often are train wrecked!) when we mess up. The Lord himself reminds us of this:

 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ~ Romans 3:23

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. ~ Romans 7:18-19

Yet the Lord in His wonderful patience and wisdom knows our weaknesses:

As a father shows compassion to his children,
    so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.
For he knows our frame;
    he remembers that we are dust. ~ Psalm 103:13-14

Not only does He know our weaknesses, He provides us with His strength:

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

But this is only offered for the humble in heart:

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
    a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. ~ Psalm 51:17

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. ~ 1 John 1:9-10

For only in humility do we realize the true depth and consequence of our sin:

For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
    and blameless in your judgment. ~ Psalm 51:3-4

But we don’t have to stay there, broken and sinful. Everybody makes mistakes – it’s what we do next that counts! When we, like David, like Paul, like the whole host of believers who have gone before us, draw near and confess and plead for mercy, we find a God whose mercy and grace is boundless and free. The Lord Himself is the one that tenderly cleanses our broken, sinful heart and restores our joy:

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
    and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
    and uphold me with a willing spirit. ~ Psalm 51:10-12

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! ~ Romans 7:25

Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

Photo by Quino Al on Unsplash(with inserted scripture)