Do- Overs

The mistakes I've made- The things I have said that I wish I could have back- The times I have dissappointed people close to me and not so close to me- The pain I have caused myself and others. What do I do with those things? There are few opportunities for Do- Overs in life. In fact I am not sure there are any. Things done can not be erased.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him- even those called according to His purpose.

Is it true?

Is God at work even in the depths of my mistakes- my failures-

Even my sin and selfish acts?

Does God's sovereignty extend even to cover my free choices that are wrong?

Is He able to take my inadequacy and use it to accomplish His Good Purposes?

I believe it is true- I hope it is true- In many ways, because of the vastness of my brokeness- my sinfulness and my screw-ups- God's Loving Sovereignty is my only Hope. Have mercy on us Lord Jesus- Have Mercy,

So what am I to do with all this- this reality of my own inability to make things right?

Two scriptures come to mind.

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in Heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden light.

I hear God say in all this to let go of all these things-

let them go and break their hold-

Trust Me Charles -

Trust Me to swallow even these things up and use them for My Good Purposes.

Phillipians 3:12-14 (Excerpts) Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead- I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me- I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me Heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Press On Charles- Press On.

Lord God Almighty, by Your Great Power and Infinite Love and Mercy move in me- in all of us who read this and struggle with our mistakes of the past- with our weakness and sin and inadequacy- with those things that haunt us-

those things that could have been-

Move in us to rest in You and to Press on in Your Grace.

Amen