My Eraser Isn’t Big Enough

Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

We all mess up.  It may be out of ignorance, incompetence, inattention, indifference, inability or even intentionally . . . for what ever the reason . . . we all make mistakes.

All mistakes have consequences.  We hope that we receive grace and mercy from community. Yet, we have the ability and availability to rest in the Grace-giver and Mercy-mover.  Solomon gives us a simple and proactive formula for our stupidity and errors in judgement.

Our Conviction.  Too many times we trust more in our own insightful whims, than in God’s inspirational wisdom.  We need to trust ALL in Him with ALL our heart.  It is complete conviction.  The psalmist writes, “Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” (Ps 37:5 NLT).   Depending primarily on our own insights only leads to perpetuating instability.  The book of Proverbs reminds us, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”  (Prov 28:26 ESV)

Our Consent.  Another translation reads, “in all your ways, acknowledge Him . . .”.  It’s recognizing that we have limited reasoning, response or resource on our own . . . He has and is all that we need.  Our approach can often lead to anxiety, apathy or abandonment.  In our Prince of Peace, there is no anxiety.  With our Wonderful Counselor, there is no apathy.  With our Everlasting Father, there is no abandonment.  Prayer becomes our confession of conceding to our Creator. Paul writes, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil 4:6 ESV)

Our Confidence.  Resting and relying on God’s complete and absolute guidance grounds us in His amazing grace.  Paul reminds us, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Rom 8:28 NLT). It’s not a “think so” . . . or “hope so” . . . it’s a “know so”.  There is no doubt in God’s decisive directing.  Solomon tells us that “He will show you which path to take”.  God’s direction becomes our delight and our deliverance.

Bottom line . . . we are all going to make some bad choices, stupid mistakes or have errors in judgement.   Famed UCLA basketball coach and mentor of young men, John Wooden reminds us, ” If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”

Even in those dark and uncertain times, we have the conviction that He can be trusted, we consent to follow His direction, and we have confidence that He will guide.

Trust and seek . . . God will direct and deliver.

So, to all of us who mess-up everyday . . . we have a Help and we have a Hope.