Have you ever messed up? Like...really blew it?
I have great news for you: No matter what you’ve done, who you’ve disappointed or hurt - Jesus is eager to forgive you. Not only that, but He wants to help you live out your purpose in life.
The Bible is full of people who majorly messed up, but God still helped them do amazing things in life. Even if you don’t know anything about the Bible, you’ve maybe heard of some of these people:
David (from “David and Goliath” fame): Took someone’s wife and had the husband killed
Moses (who said to the Pharaoh, “Let my people go”): Commited murder
Noah (Yes, the Noah with the Ark): Got drunk
Paul (who wrote most of the New Testament): Arrested Christians and had them killed
Even if you think you’ve messed up beyond repair, God can still do incredible things through you. There is still a purpose for your life!
When You Sin, Turn TO God - Not Away From Him
God is not surprised when you sin. He’s not intimidated by your mistakes. In fact, He wants to be with you and walk alongside you when you’ve sinned.
In the Bible, there’s a story to describe God called “The Prodigal Son.” In the story, a son asks his father for his inheritance and blows it on a wild lifestyle. When the son loses everything, he comes back to his father’s house. His father sees his son approaching and starts running toward his son and restores his son’s place in the family.
When you turn to God after you sin, God runs to you. He doesn’t reject you. He’s not annoyed and He doesn’t run out of forgiveness.
When you mess up, the safest place to run is to God. Don’t run away from Him.
When You Sin, Know That God Will Advocate for You
What does the Bible say that Jesus does when we sin?
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. -1 John 2:1
The word “advocate” means “to support” or “to plead for.” When we mess up, God is making a case for you. He is championing your cause!
This is the amazing thing about Jesus. He takes our sin upon Himself and gives us His forgiveness - every time!
When You Sin, Remember Who You Are
God does not define you by your biggest mistake. In fact, the Bible says He doesn’t even remember your biggest mistake!
So, you shouldn’t let your sin define you, either. There’s a difference between your behavior and your identity.
You are chosen, forgiven, pure, and loved. You're a child of God. God created you on purpose and for a purpose. You have the hope of spending eternity in heaven.
Our identity cannot be changed by what we do.
Related Post: You Are Valuable to God
When You Sin, Change Your Mind & Move On
Open your heart up to God. Talk to Him about your sin, ask for forgiveness, and ask Him to help you.
Ask God to show you how to change your mind about whatever thoughts, habits, or feelings led you to sin. There may be some activities, people, or circumstances that you need to avoid in order to resist temptation in the future. Open your life fully to God’s help because He wants the very best for you.
Life with God is an adventure - there will be times when you fall down. But, don’t get stuck. Keep going. God is there to help you!
Bible Verses When You Mess Up
What does the Bible say about when we mess up? Scripture has some good news!
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Because of our weakness and humanity, we fall short. But, this scripture shows that when we are weak, Jesus is strong. Christ’s power strengthens us and His grace is sufficient for us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - 1 John 1:9
The Bible verses tells us exactly what happens when we mess up. When we confess our sins, God forgives us and cleanses us. What a promise!
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. - Psalm 103:12
The focus of these Bible verses about messing up is not our sin, but God’s grace. It is by His works, not ours, that we are set free. His grace and forgiveness are the most important part of your life story, not your mistakes.
Related: 5 Simple Steps to Write Your Faith Story
How Does God Want Us to Learn from Our Mistakes?
What does the Bible say about our mistakes?
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. - 1 John 1:8
The first thing the Bible says about learning from our mistakes is to acknowledge our sins. We must be honest with ourselves and honest with God about our mistakes. Then, when we confess our sins to God, He is quick to forgive.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead - Philippians 3:13
This Bible verse about messing up is clear about what we should do: forget the past and focus on the future. Our sins have been forgiven, so leave them behind you! Press on for the life God has for you.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. - Philippians 4:9
The best way to learn from your mistakes is to put God’s Word into practice. Study scripture and apply it to your life. Put God’s Truth into practice.
Conclusion
These Bible verses about mistakes show us that, when we mess up, God is the best and safest place to run. We don’t need to hide from Him in shame. He is looking for you, wanting to be in a relationship with you. God is on your side.
Related Post: What is God's Will for My Life?
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