Watch Your Step!

I have a strong propensity for falling. In other words, I can be very clumsy. Very. Very. Clumsy. There are times when I've fallen and I'll laugh at my circumstances as I pick myself back up. There are times when I am in pain and hurting so I'll stay down while I "get myself together". There are times when I pop right back up because people are watching. There have been times when all three happen.

I'll never forget the time LT and I were on a date at the movie theater and I took a massive tumble from the top of the stairs all the way down to the bottom! It was so embarrassing because I was just walking down the stairs and the next thing I knew I was tumbling. To make matters worse, I was hurt and people were watching...and talking.

'Ouch!' ... 'That had to hurt!'... 'Dannnnngg!'..."How did she fall?"

Once I was off the floor and outside of the theater, limping, physically and mentally wounded, I held my head down in embarrassment. As I waited for LT to bring the car to where I was, I replayed the incident over and over in my head. As other movie goers entered and exited the theater, it felt like they were all looking at me. Even though I was sitting away from everyone, it seemed as if they, like me, questioned how I could have been so clumsy. It seemed as if they all recognized me as the clutz who had taken a tumble -- even though most of them hadn't witnessed or even known about the incident. It was awful!

Even days later, I kept replaying the fall over and over in my head and there were times I would cry because I had physical wounds and scars, reminding me of my misstep. And although months and months have passed, if I replay the incident, I feel embarrassed all over again. Yet, because of the incident, I am certain to hold on to the handrail whenever I go up or down steep stairs -- especially at the movies.

I'll be the first to admit that falling sucks! And it sucks even more when people are watching, commenting and judging your missteps. It's embarrassing.

After I went through divorce and LT and I married, the enemy tried to convince me that I "fell from grace". Even though I repented for my sin of divorce and believed I was in "right standing with God" by entering a covenant union with LT, the voices on the sideline were loud.

'How could she be so happy?' ...'Who does she think she is?'... 'My God doesn't like divorce so she's not forgiven.'... 'I heard she repented but...' ...'She's still a sinner!'

It was as if I had taken a tumble from God. And everyone was watching. I was embarrassed. Would I ever get back up?

Although many people sat in judgement and offense, it's sad to admit that the loudest voice I heard was my own. There were days when I wondered if God had truly forgiven me. Did He hear me when I repented? Did it fall on deaf ears? Was I really in right standing? It was so bad that whenever I heard messages admonishing people to hold on to their marriages because divorce is a sin, I cringed and felt guilty. It was as if I was the only one who had ever gone through a divorce and remarried.

But rather than "stay on the ground, licking my wounds", I prayed about it and asked God to show me that I was forgiven. Above all, I wanted to be right with Him. I needed to quiet the voices of doubt and unforgiveness.

Then I heard Him plainly say that His thoughts are not mine. My ways are not His.

You see, people have a very hard time forgiving people. But even worse, we have a hard time forgiving ourselves. But guess what: We are not God. When we repent to Him, saying exactly what He does about our sin(s), because of His grace and mercy, He forgives us. Period.

(There is an unpardonable sin, but because you are repenting to God and asking for His forgiveness, chances are, you haven't committed it. Read Matthew 12:31 for more information.)

The enemy is on his job 24-7, attempting to plant seeds of doubt, confusion and unforgiveness so that we will stay down and not get back up. He wants us to remain in our weakened state and not focused on God. He wants us to lose our faith and turn away from God. And when we do, he wins.

In the natural, when we fall, no matter who is watching and talking, we aren't meant to stay down. We aren't meant to waddle in self pity. Instead, we are meant to get back up again! The same goes when we sin or go against God's Word. We are to recognize our sin, repent to God, and get back up. We are to learn from our missteps (sins), being mindful not repeat them.

"For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity." ~Proverbs 24:16

Perhaps you, like me, make missteps (sin). None of us are perfect. We all come short of God's glory. But please know that God is faithful to forgive us. It is not in His plan for that sin to be the end. When you repent, you are forgiven. Allow His Word to quelsh those sideline voices -- including your own. Leave the guilt behind and get back up!

"This righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [Jew or Gentile] who believe [and trust in Him and acknowledge Him as God’s Son]. There is no distinction, since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God" ~ Romans 3:22-23 (AMP)

Selah!

~TC

Note From TC: Here are some additional scriptures to read about God's forgiveness of our sins:

*If you enjoyed reading this WHOAment, you may also like "Just Thinkin'..."

I love hearing from you, so let's chat!

*Describe the most embarrassing tumble you've ever taken.

*Have you forgiven yourself for __________? Repent to God and forgive yourself today!

*Do you know what God describes as the '"unpardonable sin"?