It’s okay to mess up

ITS OK TO MESS UP

“Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.”

Phillipians 4:6-7

It’s ok to mess up.

I’m going to say that over and over again until you get it.

Everyone makes mistakes. No one on this earth is perfect, and that’s okay. Stop beating yourself up, and being so hard on yourself.

My sister is great at being hard on herself for messing up. She has put a lot of pressure on herself for all sorts of things. But the biggest thing she puts pressure on herself for is school. If my sister gets anything below an A she breaks down. She actually told the teacher that she couldn’t come home without an A because we would be too disappointed in her. Okay, one, we have NEVER told her that. She just created this concept in her head that she HAS to be the perfect A student. My parents have tried so many times to talk to her about it and to help her through this, but she just will not stop.

I remember the day she got her first C. She came home crying. She ran straight to her room. She wouldn’t even face my parents because she was so ashamed of herself. When my mom finally talked to her she tried to explain that she needed to stop being so hard on herself- that she was making it harder for herself by being this way. You see, my sister was putting so much pressure on herself in school that she never enjoyed school. Even though she studied and did the best of her capability, she couldn’t face the fact that she messed up the test.

When I was in high school, I had a hit and run. I hit a car in the school parking lot and drove off. My friend that was in the car with me kept yelling, “go go go! They won’t catch you if you just leave!” So, I drove away. I knew I had messed up, I knew what I did was wrong, but I decided to keep my mouth shut about it and not say a word.

When I got to school the next day, my name was said across the intercom to go to the principles office. My heart dropped. When I got there he told me to sit down and that he needed to show me something.

And there it was.

My hit and run, ON CAMERA! The school cameras caught it on video and he actually played it for me! I was humiliated! At this point there was no lying to get out of this one.

He then proceeded to tell me that he had already spoken to my father and that he was on his way. I couldn’t believe this, call anyone, but NOT MY DAD! He was the worst possible person he could have called.

Sure enough when I got out of school that day, my father was standing in the parking lot next to my car. He was furious. He wouldn’t even look at me. I was grounded immediately and I had to hand write an apology letter to the classmate whose car I had hit and walk it to her class!

I was so mad at myself that I never thought I would get over it.

My mom however approached things differently with me, she told me that it was ok that I messed up. That it was ok I made a bad choice after just getting my license. That she made mistakes too. She reminded me that God forgives and never holds your mistakes over you as long as you come to him. That God says, it’s ok to mess up.

I was so relieved. So relieved that there was a God that loved me that much. That there was a God that said my mistakes DO NOT define me, rather they bring me closer to him. That he allows things to happen for us to see and draw near to him. I could come to him with a sound heart and ask for forgiveness.

My question is;

What things do you hold against yourself?

What mistakes have you made you just can’t seem to get over?

What have you not forgiven yourself for?

God says,

“Whoever tries to hide his sins will not succeed, but the one who confesses his sins and leaves them behind will find mercy. Happy is the one who always fears the Lord, but the person who hardens his heart to God falls into misfortune.”

Proverbs 28:13-14

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.”

Psalm 103:8-11