In this life here on earth, we mess up. We do things intentionally that hamper our relationship with the Father, and then wonder why we would do something so stupid.

Was it really worth the “fun” we had? Was it worth potentially ruining our relationship with that other person?

The answer is simple. No.

In those times, we feel like we are the only one who messes up in royal ways, but we are not.

David, a man after God’s heart, and the apple of his eye, knew that the presence of God should be in the center of the country, in the center of worship, so he went to get the ark of the covenant from Baal-Judah. However, both he and a man named Uzzah disobeyed the Lord.

David didn’t have the family of Levites carry the ark as the Lord designated. The ark fell and Uzzah touched it, another bad decision.

He knew he wasn’t supposed to touch it. Uzzah paid for his decision with his life.

Leaving the ark where it was, David went home and went into a pity party. He felt unworthy, he felt ashamed, he felt beaten and of no further use in that area of his life.

How often I have felt those same emotions when I have failed the Father and sinned against Him.

Have you ever had this thought? “I messed up. God can’t use me now after what I’ve done, ” or “I’m not a good person”.

Those are lies from enemy. God does not condemn us. His Spirit convicts us of sin, but He does not condemn us, even when we mess up.

Here is the good news: there is a “but.”

But God can use you!

Remember how mightily God used Peter after he was restored to the Father? He had denied that he even knew Jesus, and Jesus restored him!

He can do the same with you when you sin.

And there’s more good news. He forgets our sin when we confess it!

Psalm 103:12 says “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

What a wonderful, merciful Savior.

I acknowledged my sin to you and my iniquity I did not hide; I said “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. Ps 32:5

–by Pam Rehbein