I find it almost exhilarating that both in the Bible and in my life, God seems to enjoy using failure as a breeding ground for success. I can’t even count the number of times where I was successful at something specifically because I failed miserably at it a time before.
image by rogersmith
About a month ago, I wrote about a resounding failure of mine where I failed to help someone in need. Since then, I have sat on the sidewalk with a heavyset man who tripped rather spectacularly nearby while I was on the way to the bus. I have also run a block out of my way to check a street name for an elderly woman so that she could walk on in confidence.
Both of these things came up when I had little time to spare in order to catch a bus on time. But because of that failure a month ago, I was more ready to do the right thing in these other cases.
My God is a god of second chances
When Adam and Eve disobeyed in the Garden of Eden, recognizing and fearing their own nakedness for the first time, God was there with clothing and love. When the entire world brought condemnation upon itself, He had Noah build an Ark. Peter denied Him 3 times and was later able to affirm Him 3 times. And when all of humanity sins against God and payment must be made in the form of death, it was His own son that was given to pay the price.
Only a God like that could conceive of creating a man like me…
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2 comments on "A God of Second Chances"
1
Failures are lessons, and can be spring boards on which you can jump from.
A well-lived life is littered with failures and mistakes. The ones you have to watch out for, is when you notice you’re making same mistakes over and over.
ari
2
So True, Ari. Thanks for stopping by!
-Mike