I Thought

I thought it was a good idea at the time.
Have you ever had to say that about something you’ve done that didn’t turn out so well? I can. Many times. I could list them for you, but you wouldn’t want to spend that much time reading!

Why do our decisions sometimes turn out not to be so good?  Here are some possibilities:

• We rush the decision without thinking it through
• We are influenced by someone who pressures us to make a bad decision
• We decide based on flawed information
• We decide based on emotion (fear, anger, greed)

Sometimes we shape our spiritual or religious thoughts and beliefs based on what we think is a good idea at the time. The emphasis here is the word “we”. We think, decide, choose, alter, or reinvent some spiritual truths. The Bible knows this tendency and speaks to it:
“There is a way that appears to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and rejoicing may end in grief.”    Proverbs 14:12,13

We have options when we discover we have made a bad decision:

• We can defend it. “It was the right call at the time.”
• We can deflect blame. “I was told if I did __(fill in the blank) __ this positive outcome would occur. Not my fault!”
• We can retreat in shame, fear, or defeat.
• We can try to make amends, if possible.
• We can admit our error, own it, ask for forgiveness if necessary, and move forward. That forgiveness should come from the offended, from God, and from yourself.

There is an additional step in some events where things don’t turn out as planned. Sometimes we are the person that is harmed, inconvenienced, or embarrassed because of someone else’s bad decision. What is our response? It may (and should) vary depending on the situation, but if possible, extend grace. I tend to say, “That’s alright.” My response is incorrect. It wasn’t alright, but we extend grace anyway. We have a good example from David speaking to God:
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.   Psalm 130:3-5

We can take confidence in the assurance of forgiveness and of restored relationship through Christ. We can extend that forgiveness and relationship to others and apply it to ourselves. God forgives our sins through his son, Jesus. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14

One of Jesus’ followers (Peter) asked him a question, wanting to sound very compassionate, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” And Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”  Matthew 18:21,22

The point Jesus wanted to make was that we should live with an attitude of forgiveness in every situation. We don’t get to put a limit on God’s grace, because He doesn’t. And we can thank him for that! God gives us assurance and hope to live a life of grace and compassion knowing what God has done: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:23,24