Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles. Psalm 119:49-50 NLT
Have you ever failed a test, an assignment, or just not done as well in school as you could have? Perhaps you didn't study enough or didn't understand the subject or didn't have enough time to do your best. Whatever your reason for failing or not getting the grade you were hoping for, did you get another chance? Did your teacher allow you a retake or a redo?
My daughter was recently required to write an essay on a short story. The instructions for the assignment were given, and she followed them. The essay was the right length, had three main points she supported well, and ended with a convincing conclusion. She had me proofread it for her, and I suggested a few changes, but overall I thought it was well written and she would get a good grade. (I'm not an English teacher, but I do know a thing or two about writing :)
When she received the assignment back, she was shocked to see her grade of a solid C (74%). She usually gets A's and B's, and she didn't understand how she could have gotten such a low grade for the amount of time and effort she had put into the essay, as well as doing it the way she thought she was supposed to. I was confused also, and in reading over the teacher's comments and corrections, it was clear she had misunderstood the instructions partially and had also neglected to include some elements they had learned about essay-writing previously but hadn't been specifically reminded of for this one.
She was pretty upset about it because she was hoping to raise her current semester grade from a high B to an A. She asked her teacher if she could redo it, based on the fact she hadn't understood the instructions fully, but his response was, "You could rewrite it, but the highest grade I can give you for a redo is 80% (low B), even if you write a perfect essay."
Perhaps you can relate to that kind of frustration and disappointment. Whether it's in school or some other area of life, we often need a do-over. A second chance. Redemption. A chance to make up for a mistake or do things better. Whether our excuses are good or rather lame, we just want a chance to improve, or to at least be forgiven. The weight of failure, sin, and hopelessness can be very great, and even if we don't make any big mistakes in life, a lot of little ones or minor missteps can build up over time and make us feel defeated, not good enough, and of little value to anyone, even God, or especially God. Especially if we see Him like an unforgiving, hard-nosed English teacher.
But here's the good news. God is not like that. I found it ironic that her teacher had this policy on a short-story essay rewrite when one of the stories they had to choose from was "The Prodigal Son", a parable Jesus told that is all about forgiveness, redemption, and second-chances. Even the story she chose about Ruth and Boaz is about Ruth and Naomi receiving something they weren't technically entitled to have. But God provided for their needs anyway because He is merciful and His love is always greater than cultural systems, missteps in life, and even blatant disobedience. Even if my daughter hadn't done the assignment in the first place and gotten an F, if Jesus was her English teacher and she went to Him and asked if she could turn it in late and still get 100% if she wrote a perfect essay, no matter how good or bad her excuse was, He would give her that chance. He would give her a do-over.
Do you need to believe in God's mercy today? Do you need another chance to make things right, to receive His forgiveness, or to follow His instructions more faithfully? In Psalm 119:4-5 and 8, the psalmist says, You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees...Please don't give up on me! He goes on to say in verse 24, Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. (NLT)
I think it's important to realize that while God gives specific commands, He doesn't expect them to be followed perfectly every time. He gives us guidelines and instructions to give us the best chance of success and happiness in life, but when we fall short, He isn't there with a grade-book to give us a low score and say, 'You did it wrong,' and 'Sorry, no second chances.' He's there with an outstretched hand, saying, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest. I'll teach you how to follow Me more closely. And as you do so, you'll understand my instructions better and find comfort in My love and goodness. Don't give up. Ask for My help. I'm here to lead you every step of the way." (Matthew 11:28-30, paraphrase mine)
Have you ever failed a test, an assignment, or just not done as well in school as you could have? Perhaps you didn't study enough or didn't understand the subject or didn't have enough time to do your best. Whatever your reason for failing or not getting the grade you were hoping for, did you get another chance? Did your teacher allow you a retake or a redo?
My daughter was recently required to write an essay on a short story. The instructions for the assignment were given, and she followed them. The essay was the right length, had three main points she supported well, and ended with a convincing conclusion. She had me proofread it for her, and I suggested a few changes, but overall I thought it was well written and she would get a good grade. (I'm not an English teacher, but I do know a thing or two about writing :)
When she received the assignment back, she was shocked to see her grade of a solid C (74%). She usually gets A's and B's, and she didn't understand how she could have gotten such a low grade for the amount of time and effort she had put into the essay, as well as doing it the way she thought she was supposed to. I was confused also, and in reading over the teacher's comments and corrections, it was clear she had misunderstood the instructions partially and had also neglected to include some elements they had learned about essay-writing previously but hadn't been specifically reminded of for this one.
She was pretty upset about it because she was hoping to raise her current semester grade from a high B to an A. She asked her teacher if she could redo it, based on the fact she hadn't understood the instructions fully, but his response was, "You could rewrite it, but the highest grade I can give you for a redo is 80% (low B), even if you write a perfect essay."
Perhaps you can relate to that kind of frustration and disappointment. Whether it's in school or some other area of life, we often need a do-over. A second chance. Redemption. A chance to make up for a mistake or do things better. Whether our excuses are good or rather lame, we just want a chance to improve, or to at least be forgiven. The weight of failure, sin, and hopelessness can be very great, and even if we don't make any big mistakes in life, a lot of little ones or minor missteps can build up over time and make us feel defeated, not good enough, and of little value to anyone, even God, or especially God. Especially if we see Him like an unforgiving, hard-nosed English teacher.
But here's the good news. God is not like that. I found it ironic that her teacher had this policy on a short-story essay rewrite when one of the stories they had to choose from was "The Prodigal Son", a parable Jesus told that is all about forgiveness, redemption, and second-chances. Even the story she chose about Ruth and Boaz is about Ruth and Naomi receiving something they weren't technically entitled to have. But God provided for their needs anyway because He is merciful and His love is always greater than cultural systems, missteps in life, and even blatant disobedience. Even if my daughter hadn't done the assignment in the first place and gotten an F, if Jesus was her English teacher and she went to Him and asked if she could turn it in late and still get 100% if she wrote a perfect essay, no matter how good or bad her excuse was, He would give her that chance. He would give her a do-over.
Do you need to believe in God's mercy today? Do you need another chance to make things right, to receive His forgiveness, or to follow His instructions more faithfully? In Psalm 119:4-5 and 8, the psalmist says, You have charged us to keep your commandments carefully. Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees...Please don't give up on me! He goes on to say in verse 24, Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. (NLT)
I think it's important to realize that while God gives specific commands, He doesn't expect them to be followed perfectly every time. He gives us guidelines and instructions to give us the best chance of success and happiness in life, but when we fall short, He isn't there with a grade-book to give us a low score and say, 'You did it wrong,' and 'Sorry, no second chances.' He's there with an outstretched hand, saying, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest. I'll teach you how to follow Me more closely. And as you do so, you'll understand my instructions better and find comfort in My love and goodness. Don't give up. Ask for My help. I'm here to lead you every step of the way." (Matthew 11:28-30, paraphrase mine)
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