Have you ever messed up? I mean really did something stupid? I think we all can say yes to that for at least one moment in our lives. We all know the feeling of being awakened to the reality of our humanity.
I can remember driving one day and as the light turned green and we all started to move forward -I looked down for a split second and BANG! I totaled my car because the car in front of me slammed on their brakes & I didn’t see it. That was such a stupid mistake! I felt that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach that we all get when we do those kinds of irresponsible things.
There is a guy named Samson who I am sure knows what that “pit-in-your-stomach” feeling is all too well. In chapter 16 of the book of Judges, we see how Samson meets Delilah and falls in love. After lying to her about what makes him so strong three times, he finally tells her the truth. This is after her repeated attempt to take away his strength and send him off as the Philistines’ prisoner.
The moment his hair is cut, God leaves him and takes the mighty strength with Him. How awful is that? I don’t want to ever know that feeling. When his strength is gone, the Philistines gorge his eyes out and send him to grind grain in prison. This was one of those really stupid, irreversabke things, right? Wrong.
Judges 16:22 says: “But before long his hair began to grow back.” Samson prayed for his strength back and God honored the humility in that prayer and gave Samson back what he had lost. In that gift of grace, Samson killed more Philistines (Israel’s enemy) than ever before.
When we do something wrong, even when it is really wrong, we cannot say that we can never be as good as we once were. Yes, we have to deal with the consequences of our actions, but God honors those who humble themselves. Our God – Jesus Christ – understands what it is like to overcome adversity. He overcame the world’s adversity on the cross.
Never disqualify yourself just because you messed up. Take a note from Samson’s life: even when you mess up majorly, your life can still have meaning. Just humble yourself and go to God. Great things happen when we do that.
Be blessed, dear friends. No one can go too far for the love of our father to reach!
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:7-10 NIV
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace and your unconditional love! Thank you for loving me even when I sin. Help me, Lord, understand and overcome any adversity I’ve allowed in my life. I humbly come before you because I cannot overcome it by myself. I don’t want the mistakes of my past to define my future. I thank you for giving your Son as a sacrifice so that I may live in this amazing grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Boldly Radiant 