What have we done with our mistakes?

There is a  Peanuts comic strip where Linus says, “Maybe we should only think about today.” 

Charlie Brown disagrees. He said, “No, that’s giving up and I’m still hoping yesterday will get better!” There might be a little bit of truth in both their perspectives. We know that we can’t change what happened yesterday, but we can learn from yesterday’s sins and mistakes, and with God’s help, we can use that knowledge to make a better tomorrow.

Think of all the examples that are in the Bible. Many people made many mistakes, but did not let it keep them down and they went on to do great things. 

Paul started out persecuting the church, yet he became one of the greatest servants the church has ever know. Moses doubted God when he was being called, but went on to lead God’s people out of Egypt. Peter walked on water only to take his eyes off of Jesus and begin to sink. 

He often stuck his foot in his mouth and even denied three times that he knew Jesus. But he went on to preach on the day of Pentecost and was a great leader in the church.

The question for us is, not whether or not we have made mistakes because we all have. The question is, “What have we done with those mistakes?” 

Have we learned from them and moved on, or do we let them continue to drag us down? It is not the mistake that will define us, it is what we decide to do with it afterwards. Embrace God’s grace, move on, and become the person that God has called us to be!