When is the last time you messed up? I mean really messed up? Mine was last week.
When I trip and fall, I have a decision to make: stay in the dirt and grovel in defeat or get back up and keep moving forward.
Many women are living in silent defeat, comparing themselves to other women who likewise are living in silent defeat. I was one of them. I’m not a good mother. I’m not a good wife. I’m not a good Christian. I’m not a good witness. I’m not a good housekeeper. I’m not a good decorator. I’m not a good cook. I’m not a good…
One by one the petals fall from the beautiful flower God created us to be. Like ticker tape, our fragmented pieces of confidence scatter over the streets as the parade passes by.
Unfortunately, I wasted many precious years held captive by the Enemy’s lies before I held up my chained hands to God and said, “I’m ready for You to cut me loose.”
Consider this:
Jacob was a liar.
Moses was a stutterer.
David was an adulterer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Esther was an orphan.
Balaam’s donkey was…well, a donkey.
And yet God used each one of them to further His kingdom. You’re in good company. God doesn’t call us because we are particularly gifted or talented. He uses us because we are obedient and dependent upon Him. He doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the called. Click & Tweet!
Gideon is another one of God’s chosen leaders who argued that he wasn’t good enough. One day he was threshing wheat in a winepress when an angel of the Lord came to him. “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior,” the angel announced (Judges 6:12). Now, first of all, you don’t thresh wheat in a winepress. You thresh wheat in an open field by throwing it up in the air. The wind blows the chaff away and the grain falls to the ground.
So what was Gideon doing in the winepress? He was so terrified of his enemies, the Midianites, that he was hiding. And yet, when the angel of the Lord came to him, he addressed Gideon as “mighty warrior.” No wonder Gideon said, “Pardon me” (6:13,15).
As soon as God called Gideon to greater things, Gideon began making excuses, allowing his insecurities and inadequacies to set limitations in his life. Gideon argued, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family” (6:15).
But God looked beyond Gideon’s insecurities. He knew who Gideon could be if he trusted in God’s power to work through him. Author Renee Swope wrote: “God wasn’t limited by Gideon’s limitations, and He’s not limited by ours either. He didn’t want Gideon to depend on his own strength. God wanted Gideon to depend on His strength. God was going to conquer the Midianites, but He invited Gideon to join Him.”
What about women in the Bible? When you turn the pages from the Old Testament to the New Testament, you can tell something is going to be different for women. In the Old Testament lineages, women were rarely mentioned. However, in Matthew, the first book of the New Testament, five women are listed in the lineage of Jesus. Of course, Mary, the mother of Jesus, is there—a teenage girl from Bethlehem. But who are the other four?
Tamar, who had an incestuous encounter with her father-in-law.
Rahab, who had been a prostitute in Jericho.
Ruth, who was a foreigner from a cursed people group in Moab.
Bathsheba, who had an affair with King David.
I’m so glad these women were listed. This shows us we can never go so far away from God that His grace can’t reach in to save us, and then use us. Each of these women would have probably thought they weren’t good enough if they had known how God was going to use them in His kingdom. What a beautiful example of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians:
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).
No matter what mistakes you’ve made in your past, first of all, know you’re in good company. Secondly, know that God loves using mess-ups who fess up and then step up to do mighty works for Him. Click & Tweet!
God, I have made some big mistakes in my life. How encouraging to know that some of Your mighty men and women in the Bible messed up too. Help me to move past my failures and into the amazing future you have for me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
This will be fun and encouraging…in a good/bad sort of way. When was the last time you messed up. Just leave a comment so that your sisters, me included, will know we’re not alone!
Do the voices in your head say you’re not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough…or just not enough, period?
It’s time to stop listening to lies that sabotage your confidence and to embrace the truth of who God says you are.
Join me for 7 days to transform your thought life by replacing the lies that steal your confidence with God’s truth! CLICK HERE to join.
Comments 26
VERY POWERFUL
I’m in pain a lot with an autoimmune disease. My temper tends to be short and my husband gets the brunt of it. Often i feel it’s justified because I feel he does inconsiderate things without thinking of how they affect me. My mess-ups are usually focused on my language and tone directed at him. I’m learning to acknowledge, ask forgiveness from God then go to my husband and ask forgiveness, also. He’s always gracious, as is my heavenly Father.
I messed up on Sunday and when asked about the situation I didn’t take responsibility for it. This morning the Lord brought it back to my remembrance and I repented and he told me to receive the correction and move forward and do better. Moments later I see this blog in my email. Our father is so loving and encouraging. Thank you for sharing this.
This one will sound strange, but I am going for it anyway. I was down to my last 2.59 in my bank account, knowing a auto payment of 74.00 was coming due in about 4 days. I had earlier declared I would not touch my 401k and the first thing I did was submit for a withdrawal (getting myself out of a tight place). My husband bought me a scratch off ticket and I won 250.00 (I believe this is God’s message to me, “didn’t I say wait on me”). Not huge, no one died, but I was humbled and again learned, no response immediately, does not mean NO.
Yesterday….every day I make a mistake…selfishness, anger, gossip, pride, comparison, jealousy, false idolatry. But I also ask God for forgiveness and help to change each day as well….accepting that I’m truly forgiven and can move past shame and guilt is the tricky part. Find joy in Gods grace and forgive yourself as God does!!
Blessings!
Author
Amen!
Yes I’m a mess need to listen and do what needs doing not complain.
I was teaching an adult Sunday School this past Sunday. I always study and go prepared, but this past Sunday I felt not prepared and not worthy to present God’s words and thoughts. I have prayed about it and have started this Sunday’ lesson on first fruits. Thanks for reading and caring. I receive such a blessing from your daily devotions. God bless you and your works. Marie Bolton m.bolton1@cox.net
My most recent mess up: sharing a confidence. Keeping my mouth shut is a struggle for me. Praying to be a secret keeper and take it to the Lord only.
James 3:2 “Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could control ourselves in every other way.”
Yesterday I was overwhelmed. It was awful. Meltdown at work. Ugh. Guilt. Shame. Frustrating. Could not sleep. Desperate to call into work sick!! Ugh. Ugh. Ugh.
Thank you Sharon for the beautiful bracelet. After reading these devotionals I am feeling like I am enough not only in God’s eyes but in my own. A weight is slowly being lifted and I’m seeing the way out.
I am touched……..
because most of the things written in this article describes what I am going through these days
thank you for this write up
I just wish I could come forward and be a part of this 7 day challenge
but because of certain reasons I am not able to….
needless to say please pray for me to show an honest interest in wanting to spend time in the presence of God
I spent too much money on things for myself and ended up short to pay the bills because the alternator went out on our car. I haven’t been giving enough to God.
I never considered God even using my limitations until lately, I knew I should not limit Him. He doesn’t really need us to accomplish anything, He just wants to give good gifts.
What if your “mess up” has affected someone’s else’s life and you can’t change it?
So much guilt and regret
Yes, our mess ups can affect other people, but God can make good out of what is bad. Ask Him for His forgiveness first, then ask for the direction of the Holy Spirit to lead You to forgive yourself. Rest assured in God that He has control of the situation and will guide you to His purpose.
That is where I am at Susan, where my stuff ups have affected others negatively, with no way to fix it. I am slowly learning that if I try to fix it, it will only make it worse.
I thank God for this word. I seem to never understand what God sees in me and why He chooses to use me.
God brought my husband and I out of a storm and i was so thankful but it doesn’t show because I have failed to give back to God. I have not been serving God with my time in quite awhile.
I still continue to make such bad choices ( non intentionally) that put me in danger of going to jail. I have no idea why at 50 years old this is my behavior. Within the last 2 days, while pondering my possible jail sentence coming up, potential loss of job I have had for 13 years and a home for 15 years, this calmness is felt inside of me. Very hard to explain, wonderful feeling though ! I am a good person…just make bad choices and do not consider the consequences. I also recognized this the last couple days as well.
Yes I am a mess.Everyday I do things contrary to what I had intended. I get so irritated by trivial issues.i pray and ask for for give news but still I find myself again in such a mess
This is just what I needed today as I have messed up the first part of this weekend..I just seem to keep doing the same things that I tell myself I am not going to do any more, then I turn around and do them again. God has been so good to me and has answered some prayers that I thought was impossible. We truly serve an awesome God and thank goodness I am not the only one who messes up. I read girlfriends in a God with my cup of coffe in the mornings and I am very grateful that I have this devotion to start my day. Love my girlfriends in God❤️
I didn’t just mess up… I am a mess… I don’t even know if God will hear my prayers anymore. It’s hard to even pray… I got on my knees one night and all I could do was cry. Words aren’t enough anymore. I’ve failed. I’ve fallen. There is no going back.
I feel the same way right now all I wanna do is get right with God and stop my wrong doing I been doing some evil things I pray I make it outta this when I do come out am gonna give it my all my best not to mess up like this no more I don’t want another man I don’t want anymore drugs I just wanna be back close to God and give him my heart ..God I no in my heart that I’ve felled you I don’t even no what to say no more Lord please give me another chance I’ve done wrong I even been abuse toward my husband my anxiety is outa control my addiction is outta control I’ve lied and done what is evil in your sight please forgive me Jesus and clean me from all my unrighteousness Jesus can you here me my sins have separate you from me Lord forgive me of my rebellious ways
I’ve messed up my life I’ve turn away from God Am addiction have gotten the best of me I’ve been on drugs before and got clean but a year ago I started back using cocaine the reason why I use is because of the man am dating don’t get me wrong not blaming him when I put that stuff in my noise I hate it I hate how it makes me feel I don’t eben get high I get really angry because it be messing with my heart I was clean from this stuff until he came in my life see he use cocaine I don’t like it I only do it with him and when I do it it makes my mood real low and I hate that feeling also am struggling with taking pain medication sick of the way my life is going 😢😢it’s breaking my heart I’ve never been this angry before and me and my husband fuss all the time am even putting my hands on him my life is a mess this has been the hardest season of my life I was so strong in the Lord one time now I live in a backsliding state I don’t even no how to pray anymore let alone read my word because I’ve done so much evil toward God will I ever come out when is God gonna deliver me I wanna be clean am so unhappy with my life every other day my husband getting high he lie and say he gonna fall back so I can get a little strong with God but then he right back buying cocaine again what do I do 😢😢😢How do I forgive myself for the things I’ve done towards God how do I start I want some Help😢🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
I’ve messed up. I’m in a dry season it seems. Everything around me has fallen apart. In it all, I know that God is good, this did not take Him by surprise and He will handle it. Yet I don’t feel the least bit connected, I feel like God is so much further away than He has ever been. I also am not trying. I don’t even have the will to do so. But for His glory somehow and that of my family I will press on, I will press forward for the cause of Christ and for them.