Don’t be too hard on yourself!

“Nobody is perfect, we have to learn from our mistakes in life” As a child I often heard this phrase said to me by my parents to help me feel better about myself.  Failing my first driving test, getting a poor grade on an exam because I answered questions incorrectly, letting a friend down when I had made plans to meet them at a certain time or place without just cause, losing several thousands of pounds for an employer having miscalculated an allowance for an employee.  These are just a few examples of some of the mistakes I have made in the past, there are many more and as human beings we are not perfect. 

However, it’s not easy to live with the mistakes we have made in our lives. Some can be more impactful than others and some very hard to face up to.  Some create division between family and friends, create long term consequences and effects on ours and others’ lives.  How we choose to act or carry our actions out at any given time is often influenced by a mixture of knowledge, experiences in the past and influences from peers.  

But we can’t change the past and we can certainly try and make things right.  Admitting to a mistake and owning up to somebody can be so hard.  It requires strength, courage and great will to do the right thing.  When we own up to somebody, it may not be received particularly well and we can feel deeply ashamed & hurt and possibly feel worse as a result but you have recognised the mistake, realised the wrong and most importantly you want to make it right again. 

Psalm 37:23-26 

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. 

We all stumble, but we learn and with the grace of God and our faith in Him we can and will do better next time. God loves us for who we are.  He accepts our mistakes and we must accept them too and learn from them.  

If I think about some of the mistakes I’ve made and the sleepless nights I’ve had, I think back to how much I needn’t have worried so much.  An element of guilt and responsibility is good so you can realise you have made a mistake, but to over worry and feel endless guilt is not good.  With prayer, and the will for the Lord to help you, He will. 

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Dear Lord,

Thank you that you accept we make mistakes in life;

That you are there to help us and reach out to us when we stumble;

Let us accept our mistakes, learn from them and move forward from them;

Let us not dwell but be thankful for your love.

Amen.

Claire Arculus