Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of our graciously and patiently forgiving God. He treats us far better than we deserve.
The eleventh category of blessing is also related to circumstance, but even more unexpectedly than the previous topic of troubling times. This time the blessing of God is seen even in the midst of self-imposed failure. In other words, the believer falls due to his own weakness, poor choices, or sin, but God still has expressions of blessing for him.
When a believer falls, his fall is temporary. God limits the time of failure. He remembers him and gives hope again. “For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever” (Psalm 9:18).
When a believer falls, his fall is only partial. He is not completely or irreparably brought down. God holds his hand and helps him to recover and continue on. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:24).
When a believer falls, God helps him. God sustains him and raises him back up. God gives renewed strength. “The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).
Rebellion can take a believer in the wrong direction, but God does not abandon him to destruction. When the believer moves to return, God heals him and delivers him from the finality of the destruction that his actions would otherwise have brought. “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” (Psalm 107:20).
Rebellion can also take a believer into deep darkness, but God is able to bring light once again. Returning to God brings not condemnation, but light and freedom. “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder” (Psalm 107:14).
Wonderfully, a believer’s failure never has to be the end. Although there may be consequences of wrong choices, God is able to reverse the sad situation. He can restore in ways that may have seemed unimaginable. “Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad” (Psalm 14:7).
This remnant or vestige of God’s blessing even in sin and failure is reassuring and is quite a contrast to what happens to the wicked. The righteous don’t get all the consequences they deserve, but the wicked do. The wrong actions of the wicked result in violence upon himself. “His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate” (Psalm 7:16).
Instead of rising back up after a time of failure, the wicked fall completely. They are thrust out. “Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee” (Psalm 5:10).
Then the wicked embark on a path of sin, their end is sad. They stumble and fall. “When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell” (Psalm 27:2). They stumble and perish. “When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence” (Psalm 9:3). They are thrown down and are unable to rise again. “There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise” (Psalm 36:12).
Certainly, we do not want to tempt God or try to take advantage of His love and compassion. However, it is a great comfort to realize that God does love us so much and so loyally. How many times have we acted in ways that should mark the end of grace received? How often have we done things to alienate ourselves from God? If we got what we deserved, we would have passed the point of no return long ago. It is an incredible blessing to have a God whose desire is always to help and restore. Undoubtedly, each of us has received this particular blessing of God more often that we realize. Here we are, years or decades down the spiritual road, and in spite of our abundant failures, we still stand beloved by God. We still stand in a position of favor and fellowship with Him. We still receive His grace and strength. When it seems that God’s blessing should be forever forfeited, even then His blessing continues.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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