Trail Marker #21 You Are Not Defined By Your Mistakes

Each day we make over 35,000 conscious decisions. Without even thinking, you decide when to wake up. You chose to brush your teeth. You even chose to read this article. This are small choices you make but there are bigger choices you are faced with each day. For example you may have asked yourself, "should I quit my job and follow my dream."

Statistics show that we make on average 12,775,000 decisions each year. It is easy to see that we may not be happy about some of those decisions because we are unable to make the right choice 100% of the time. Once the decision is made it is now beyond our control.

The choices you made are not mistakes but how you behave after the choice is made is where the mistakes happen. I've made many choices that have led to mistakes in my life. For many years, I was stuck with regret and shame so strong that I questioned my identity in Christ. But I learned that mistakes are just experiences not who we are.

I am grateful that God works all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). I have learned through success and failures in my life. Each one of those mistakes were pivotal moments to become stronger, wiser leading to making better choices.

When we look at scripture, we can learn a great deal about the decisions people made that led to mistakes. God described David as a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). With this compliment, you might think that he was close to perfect. Throughout his life he made big mistakes.

1. He stayed in Jerusalem when God told him to led Israel into battle (2 Samuel 11:1)

2. David had an affair who later became pregnant and then he ordered the assassination of her husband. (2 Samuel 11: 2-11)

These choices led to consequences including the death of Bathsheba and their son. God is definitely disappointed in David. He has unconditional love for us. Psalm 145:8 reminds us that, "the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love." David experienced regret, grief, shame. In the book of Psalms, he is recorded to crying out to God. He rejoiced in God's love and redemption. He was no longer a slave to fear but embraced the identity he had in Christ.

David is remembered for defeating Goliath as a boy, conquering Jerusalem, defeating the Philistines, saved his people from a deadly plaque, writing music that we still sing today and of course Christ was a direct descendent from King David. He is not defined by his mistakes.

Another example in scripture is that of the Apostle Paul. Before having an encounter with God, he persecuted Christians to the point of ordering many to be executed. Definitely he made his share of bad choices. Yet, Paul is remembered for being one of the first people to spread the word of Christ. He is believed to have authored much of the New Testament which guided believers on spreading the gospel around the globe. Paul focused not on the past but on the future.

“I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3:12-14

We can learn from our mistakes. The people of the Bible did and God's purpose was glorified through them. I encourage you to reach out to God and release the shame, regret that often follow mistakes and ask for God's forgiveness. Focus instead on who you are in Christ. You are loved, cherished, redeemed, accepted, created in Christ's image.

The words of the song "You are More" by Tenth Avenue North remind us that we are more than the choices that you have made. You are more than the sum of your mistakes. You are more than the problems you create. You have been remade.

Mistakes are going to happen because we are human. Remember the words of Deuteronomy 13:4

“You are to follow only God, your God, hold him in deep reverence, keep his commandments, listen obediently to what he says, serve him, hold on to him for dear life!”

Draw close to Him and He will direct your paths.