April 11, 2017
When You’ve Failed and Bailed
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)
Friend to Friend
I just love Moses. I can relate to him on so many levels.
For about forty years, he thought he was an Egyptian...the son of the Pharaoh’s daughter. But somehow he discovered that he was NOT an Egyptian after all. He was a Hebrew, the son of a slave woman. . . and that changed everything.
Moses had a mid-life crisis and came up with a plan to save his true people from Egyptian slavery. God did not call him to this plan. He came up with it all on his own. (Red flag for all of us.)
One day Moses was walking among his people and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Glancing first one way and then another to make sure no one was looking, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. One down. Several million to go. Moses was working the plan.
The next day, Moses was out walking among his people and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?”
The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?”
Moses realized what he had done was widely known. The Pharaoh was out to kill him, and his fellow Hebrews mocked him. So he failed and he bailed.
Moses fled to a place called Midian, married a gal named Zipporah, and joined the family business taking care of sheep. The next time we see Moses, forty years have passed; he is now 80 years old . . . and he is stuck. Oh, sister, I’ve been there. Have you?
Moses was stuck in Midian and held hostage by his failures. He had settled for less than what he was made for. Less than what God had prepared him for. Less than what he had hoped for in himself. And there he stayed.
This is where many people drive their tent stakes in the ground and settle. They make a mistake, fall flat on their face, and run away to the far side of the wilderness, hoping no one will notice. Praying everyone will just leave him or her alone, at the same time, absolutely miserable that life has morphed into a monotonous, lackluster checklist. Like Moses, many bury their hopes and dreams to protect their hearts from further disappointment.
But that’s not where God wants you to stay. We all fail. We all make mistakes. Peter did. Moses did. Jacob did. Samson did. David did. But just because you failed does not mean you ARE a failure. You are a child of God who makes mistakes.
God wasn’t finished with Moses and He’s not finished with you or me. He has a plan...a good and perfect plan.
So if you feel stuck...if you’ve failed and bailed to your far side of the wilderness...it’s time to get unstuck and move forward. God has burning bushes all around. This could be one right now. He’s calling you to let go of your failure, move forward in all that He has for you to do, and live bold.
Come on. Let’s do it together! He’s calling your name.
Let’s Pray
God, I cringe at the times I’ve let You down. It breaks my heart to think about the times that I’ve failed. But I am so thankful for Your GRACE. Thank You for calling me off the bench and back into the game even when I didn’t feel worthy. I love you so much.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Read Jesus’ discussion with Peter, not by a burning bush, but by another burning fire. John 21:15-17.
What had Peter done to let Jesus down?
What was Jesus doing during this conversation with Peter?
What is Jesus saying to you through today’s devotion?
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