Have you ever felt frustrated because you blew it again? I believe, on the most part, we are probably hardest on ourselves. Maybe you have an area in your life that you are trying to over come. Or maybe you are learning something new and you get so frustrated because you keep not getting it.
I have recently taken on a job I have never done before. I work at a print shop and they are training me in to run their Digital department. You wouldn’t think it is any big deal but I have found there are a lot of details that you have to make sure are in place. If you just miss one detail it can be a misprint and you have to start it all over again.
The other day, because I missed one detail, I set to print 200 books instead of 100. Fortunately I ran out of paper so I ended up printing 50 over rather than 100. My boss is so gracious. Of course he talks to me about where I went wrong and to make sure that I pay attention to all the little details but he was very kind.
For me though, it was agony. I couldn’t quit thinking about what I had done. This is not my first mistake, just my biggest. I keep thinking he needs to just let me go but apparently he sees potential in me.
I remember when he hired me what he said, “I would rather hire a good person, one with integrity, fast, and conscientious, with no knowledge and train them. Those that I can hire with knowledge are not always good game players. I want people who are good people who can work together with others, making a good team.”
Basically what I got out of the things that he said was that education can tend to make a person stuck in their own ways and it is hard to change them into what you are wanting for your own business. They can be in a mindset and it is hard to get them out of it.
We had a production meeting after my bigger mistake. I wondered how it would go. He let me know that he appreciated my work and that he was very pleased with what I am doing, being that I have come in with no knowledge. It blew my mind, because I was thinking I might fire me if I was him.
As I was pondering this it made me think of Jesus. If you have grown up as a Christian it is like you have received an education in Christianity. You think you know because you have been a “Christian” all your life. The reality is that God has a harder time using those of us who are more “educated”. We tend to be set in our ways and God has a hard time changing us. Oh, He has the power to change us but we get in the way.
The question is does He really have our heart or are we just going through the motions of Christianity? How does God deal with our mistakes? If we have pre-knowledge we are held more accountable for our mistakes. Does God deal with us differently? I do believe so. If we have knowledge of the truth and we go against that knowledge that is willful disobedience. So the big question is, “Who has the heart?” And can God still forgive us?
Then I think of those that are “uneducated”. They didn’t grow up knowing anything of Christianity. So when they hear the gospel message they are amazed. When they accept the truth they are moldable. They are like an innocent child. They take it all in willingly without any preconceived ideas. God is able to work with them easier because they don’t have any pre-knowledge that hinders them. We need to become “as little children” Matthew 18:3.
How does God look at their mistakes? “And the times of this ignorance God winked at;…. Acts 17:30. When a person is new at the truth and learning God looks at their mistakes differently. But as they grow and learn they become more responsible. It is still about “Who has the heart?” It just seems that those with less education and knowledge have a more willing heart to learn.
What I am grateful for is no matter what category we may fall in God is forgiving, long-suffering and gracious. Are we willing to accept what He offers us?
- He offers forgiveness. He wants to forgive us every time we make a mistake. Gratefully if we ask He always forgives and He is kind and gracious.
- He offers strength. If we come to Him each day asking for His guidance, protection, and strength for the day He will provide it. We need to accept His strength because we are not strong enough without it.
- Become as little children. We need to be teachable like a little child. Little children ask a lot of questions because they are eager to learn. We should be like little children always eager to learn. And accept what God tells us just like a little child accepts our answers to their questions without hesitation. The most wonderful part is God does not get annoyed with us as we do with our little ones. He is there to teach us all the things we need to learn.
- Be humble.Too many times when we have done wrong we want to make excuses. When we see we have done wrong we need to humble ourselves. If we accept that we have done wrong we can learn from it.
Dear Father,
Please forgive us for taking Your kindness, mercy and graciousness for granite. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for Your continued patience.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
Remember no matter how many mistakes you have made God is always forgiving. Go to Him today and He will forgive and give you the strength you need to make it through.
Love you all.
Have you ever felt like you blew it again and there was no hope? How did God see you through?