By Larry P. Stover

 

Have you messed up lately? I mean really messed up?

We often go into an emotional tailspin when we make a mess of life.

Failure may grip us. I’ve known people who settled under a cloud of self-pity wondering if God would ever forgive them or give them another chance.

In the midst of the despair, I remind people of the promise in Psalm 147:11: “The Lord delights in those…who put their hope in His unfailing love.”

So what does this verse mean?

It means that God loves you so much that he will not give up on you. He is ready to forgive.

The Apostle John reminds us that Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father.

When we sin against Him, disobey His will, or just plain make a mess of life, He is there to ask our heavenly Father for another chance.

Anyone of us can miss God’s will or direction in life.

Who hasn’t said or done something that they wished they could take back.

Like the common expression goes, how many of us have “opened our mouth and stuck our foot in it up to our knee.”

Do you have a problem of opening your mouth before putting your brain in gear?

The good news is that we have a loving, merciful God who understands and wants to forgive us and get us back on track. He is a compassionate God. It’s like when a child falls and we pick them up, dust off their clothes, give them a hug and send them on their way.

He knows our frailties, inconsistencies, and every other little weird thing about us.

The good news is that God is a “God of new beginnings!” He can make something worthwhile of your life if you will give Him an opportunity.

Maybe, you are reading this column right now and are thinking of the mess your life is in.

You seem to be taking one step forward and two steps back.

Are you one of the countless manystruggling with the day-to-day depressing issues that haunt you on a continual basis?

Do you remember the story of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee?

He was asleep in the back of the boat when a storm came out of nowhere, and the boat began to sink.

The disciples woke Jesus up in total fear and bewilderment telling him, “We’re gonna drown!” Jesus stood up, stretched out his hand over the wind and waves and spoke the words, “peace, be still.”

The scripture tells us that immediately the storm stopped and the lake was calm.

If your life is in a mess, Jesus has some great news for you today.

That same Jesus that calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee can calm the storm in your life.

He can give you a new beginning. He will lead you to people who can help you get back on track.

The result will be “simply beautiful.”