When You Feel Like You’re One Big Mess Up

One big mess up. A failure. A mistake. Because of your actions do you ever felt like any of these? If you’re human (and I assume we all are), I’m guessing we all have.

I felt like a big mess up not so long ago.

I didn’t love well. In fact, I displayed the opposite of love. I know better. Really, I do. But still, I revert back to my old ways. I still mess up, even when I know better.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Last month I felt like a failure when my judgmental attitude got the best of me, and I again failed at loving. I thought I had buried that old tendency. But, it found a way back in my life again.

I get so frustrated when I do what I don’t want to do.

I get irritated and upset at myself when I behave in ways I don’t want to.
Those words remind me of apostle Paul’s in Romans 7.

“What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.” Romans 7:15 MSG

The passage goes on to explain it’s the sin that lives within Paul that causes him to do such things. I so understand, Paul. I so understand.

Really, I try to do good.

I try to display God’s attributes in my daily life. I try to love like Jesus loves. But I have this part of me that fights against all that’s good, and holy, and lovely. Friend, it about causes me to throw my hands up in despair.

Maybe you understand, too. Or maybe you’re not at all like Paul and me. I hope you aren’t. I hope you always do good, and represent God well, and love like Jesus.

But, if we’re more alike than not in this way, the good news is, you and I aren’t left without hope. Reading on in Romans:

“I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” Romans 7:24-25 

Our hope in this contradictory living is Jesus.

Now, this won’t make sense to some. It reads as nonsense to others. But, I’ve learned because of what Jesus did on our behalf, we can be set free from sin’s hold on us. Even though we mess up, and sometimes feel like one big mess up after another, we can find forgiveness and grace in the One who freely gives it. Jesus.

Friend, so the next time you feel like a failure, a mistake, or a mess up, I remind you to take it to Jesus. When we ask for forgiveness, he wipes the slate clean and teaches us to live in His ways. He encourages us to pick ourselves back up and try again.

That’s good news today and every day. I invite you to join me in picking ourselves back up and trying again.

Thanks for stopping by today. It’s a joy to have you here.

Much love,

Julie

 

Linking this post with God Sized Dreams and Lori Schumacher.