All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes. Winston Churchill
A mistake repeated more than once is a decision. Unknown
If you're like me and willing to admit it, you've made some mistakes in your life. People make mistakes all the time simply because we are human. Some of us own up to those mistakes and take the steps to refine our character or repair any damages we may have caused, while others may shrink in fear of their mistakes or continue to repeat the same ones over and over. Whichever camp we find ourselves in, wise or unwise, mistakes are not the end of the world or even the end of us. We are not losers if we make them, and we are not perfect if we seemingly skate through life never making one. I laugh because we should all realize that no one is perfect, but it would be nice if we could live a flawless life sometimes and just avoid all the muck and mire we create.
We can sure beat ourselves up over our mistakes, though, can't we? From the minor mishaps to the really big doozies, and those are all subject to our own definitions, some of us have a really hard time with our own slip-ups. When our imperfections lead to outward mistakes, it can be a sticky situation for those who like to hide behind a perfect facade of "having it all together." Pride is one of our most obvious mistakes, because it fools us into thinking we are fooling everyone else! Funny thing about pride; it's pretty transparent, and the wise always see right through it.
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in 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 1:8-9
Admitting we made a mistake is never easy, especially when we have to admit that the mistake could be a result of a string of behavior or emotions that we haven't addressed. Continuing to replay the incident over and over in our minds and assaulting ourselves with punishment only keeps us parked in a state of self-loathing and unforgiveness. Pride often keeps us from telling anyone about the mistake, rectifying the mistake, or dealing with it at all. Of all the people to tell about our mistakes, God is the One who can actually handle them. If we go to God with complete repentance in our hearts, and a desire to change, He will forgive us and show us what we need in order to move forward, but we will have to go about things His way instead of the way we've been going. We have to believe that with God, we will be able to make this mistake something good, and even if not good, we will be a better person at the end of it, regardless of the outcome. Some of my mistakes didn't feel good at the end of the lesson, but it was a consequence of my own doing, and I don't think it was supposed to feel good. I think it did what it was meant to do, and I learned. I'm never doing that again!
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:6-7
When we make a mistake or keep making the same mistakes, sometimes it's a way for God to show us that we need to make a real change in an area of our lives that we have been neglecting. Maybe it's our studies, our physical health, our finances, relationships, career, but God will use our mistakes to grow us, protect us, and show us those areas where we have lost focus. It's always amazing to me to see what God has done with my errant behavior, after I asked for help. It's never what I expect! We only have to be willing to allow Him to come in and rearrange our thinking and maybe a few out of place areas of our hearts. It doesn't feel great at the time, but if we are patient and can understand that the outcome is for our benefit, we will allow it. Like a parent who says, "this is building your character", is God who actually does build our character.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
I didn't even know I was contributing to my own downfall until I kept making the same mistakes over and over. We aren't always aware of our own missteps. This is pretty evident in the world today. We are pretty shortsighted sometimes when it comes to our own lives. I saw the quote, "Don't cling to a mistake just because you spent a long time making it," and it's so true. Sometimes we think it's so far gone that we should just go with whatever we find ourselves stuck in. We don't stop and take our own inventory but we do a lot of complaining about the things that aren't working, and we criticize others to oblivion. We make a lot of excuses for our own behavior and we can even make them sound pretty credible and valid as a way to protect them. It's not easy to admit our faults to ourselves sometimes, but if we want to overcome them, we have to get real. We have to be courageous if we want to change, and we also have to humble ourselves and care more about what God knows than what other people think of our missteps! It's not about them.
Treat people who make mistakes the way you would want God to deal with you when you make mistakes. Unknown
Personal mistakes can be an accurate barometer of our own lives. What keeps repeating that is not contributing to a successful, joyful existence? Is it overeating or overspending, or constant issues in relationships, career problems? Are there feelings of anger, rejection, jealousy, envy, bitterness, and other self-destructive thoughts? What is the common denominator? Pray and ask God for enlightenment. Admit to God what your weaknesses are, and if you aren't even aware of them, ask Him to show you what they are and then listen. Ask Him to give you strength and clarity and the knowledge to move out of that messy life into a fruitful one. Life is not just "happening" to us. There are things we are allowing because we are not aware of how we are contributing to our own issues. There are mistakes we make out of a lack of wisdom and knowledge, and there are some we make because we fail to pray, think, and wait. God's word is available to us, and God is available to us to get us through all the areas of our lives that threaten to trip us up and knock us right over.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5
God will give you wisdom and direction if you show Him that you want to do things His way. We'll still make mistakes, after all, we are still human. But we can get right back on track with the growth of our character and the faith that we are intentionally building with God. It's not our mistakes that will define who we are. It is how we rectify our mistakes and the person we are becoming along the way. We don't need to waste time running from problems, hiding behind pride and false humility, or pretending we never make a mistake. While it is so important to get real with ourselves in order to see where we got off track, it is also just as imperative to be gentle and forgiving with ourselves as we open up new territory. A mistake is not the end of the world, and it is not the end of us. It can be the beginning of change, if we choose to see it that way.
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16
