what mistakes reveal
Recently I made a mistake I shouldn’t have made. Or, at least that's what I thought at first. Not that I was wrong about having made the mistake; that definitely happened. Rather, it was my belief that I shouldn't have made THIS mistake that I had to contend with, along with a considerable amount of emotional distress I experienced after it happened.
When we make a mistake, especially one that feels big, it's an opportunity to discover what we really believe.
As I wrestled through things, I was startled to discover that on some level I actually believed I could not, and should not, make certain mistakes. My reasoning had to do with things like having a certain measure of life-experience and being blessed with a gift of discernment, and - I guess - being perfect?
Believing we won't make mistakes is false because no matter how seasoned we become, we never stop being human.
This is a key lesson I learned from this situation. Because while it is true that we should make fewer missteps the further we move into certain realms, it is not realistic, fair, or loving to expect ourselves to no longer make any at all. This is easier to accept when we remember that Someone bigger than ourselves is holding our future.
The level of distress we feel when we mess up rises and falls with the level of faith we put in God to direct - and protect - our future.
When I peeled back my layers of anxiety, at the core was the fear that I had made a fatal mistake, and that EVERYTHING in my life was now at risk of falling apart. That's some pretty extreme thinking, but I'm guessing you can probably relate sometimes...
The truth is, while mistakes CAN cause problems, and even close some doors we wish would stay open, none of us are big enough to void God's plan with one ill-chosen move, or even hundreds - or thousands - of them. And that's some pretty great news.
If you've made a mistake you need to make right with someone, stop beating yourself up and go Close the Loop.
It may take a little time for things to settle, but whatever the outcome on the human side, you can rest in knowing our Heavenly Father calls you forgiven. And his is the final word.
For TRUTH...
- Constance
