So I sit here in my rocking chair wrestling with how to think about it. With each new annoying consequence of my choice, I kick myself again. Why did I DO that? Stupid, naïve me! It wasn’t a sinful choice. It wasn’t a foolish choice. But now it seems to me to have very much been the wrong choice.
But God is sovereign even over my choices. He could have protected me from making this mistake. He does it all the time in fact. I can’t count how many times He’s protected me from doing something stupid, protecting me from my own ignorance. But He didn’t do it this time. Maybe He’s protecting me by allowing this mistake. Maybe He has a plan in this mistake. I think of Gandalf’s famous rebuke of Frodo in the Fellowship of the Rings.
Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many - yours not least.
As Gandalf told Frodo, my heart tells me too that my “mistake” may have some Kingdom role to play in my heart and my children’s heart this year. Sure--I could have prayed about it harder. Sure—I could have done more research and not assumed I knew as much as I did. But in the end, the gospel frees me from kicking myself every time a new consequence arises. And the character of my God gives me hope that even mistakes can be used by Him for Him—for my good and His glory.
Proverbs 16:9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
2 comments:
I really needed to hear this! I have too made mistakes that are a hard lesson. But by his grace I will get through.
Bless you today!
From Martin Luther:
"First, as regards kingship, every Christian is by faith so exalted above all things that, in spiritual power, he is completely lord of all things, so that nothing whatever can do him any hurt; yea, all things are subject to him, and are compelled to be subservient to his salvation. Thus Paul says, "All things work together for good to them who are the called" (Rom. viii. 28), and also, "Whether life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours; and ye are Christ's" (1 Cor. iii. 22, 23).
"This is a spiritual power, which rules in the midst of enemies, and is powerful in the midst of distresses. And this is nothing else than that strength is made perfect in my weakness, and that I can turn all things to the profit of my salvation; so that even the cross and death are compelled to serve me and to work together for my salvation. This is a lofty and eminent dignity, a true and almighty dominion, a spiritual empire, in which there is nothing so good, nothing so bad, as not to work together for my good, if only I believe. And yet there is nothing of which I have need--for faith alone suffices for my salvation--unless that in it faith may exercise the power and empire of its liberty. This is the inestimable power and liberty of Christians."
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