Stronger Stuff: Handling Life’s MessesSample

Day 3: The Call

Okay, so we’ve made a mess, and we’ve realized there’s no chance of our being able to make things right on our own. What do we do? Who do we call?

Similar to Nick, we call on our Heavenly Father.

God, in all of His holiness and righteousness, is the only One capable of reaching down into our mess, pulling us out, and making us clean.

This is what Jesus, the Son of God, coming to Earth was all about. God, in His great love for us, refused to leave us to face our sins on our own. So He sent His Son to us to live a perfect life and die on the cross for the sins of every person, past, present, and future.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior and choose to follow Him, from that moment on, we become clean in the sight of God. And the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and begins the work of day by day, changing us and making us more like Jesus.

Because of this connection with God, when we find ourselves in the middle of a mess, we’re not alone. We can call on our Father, and He’ll help us. He’ll forgive us and give us the wisdom and courage we need to make things right. And by asking for His help, the Holy Spirit will remain at work, slowly refining our hearts so we’re better able to avoid similar messes in the future.

And the comforting thing is that Jesus actually empathizes with the messes we find ourselves in. Because He lived as a man on Earth, He faced temptations of His own. He understands the pull of wanting His way rather than God’s way and knows how difficult it can be to overcome those desires. So we don’t have to worry about God getting angry or annoyed with us as we struggle through our messes. Just like Nick’s father, God is endlessly patient with us as we continue the journey of becoming more like Jesus.

So the next time you find yourself in the middle of a mess, remember—God is with you. He’s always present and ready to help you wash away your sins. All you need to do is ask.

Reflection: Are you in the middle of a mess right now? God is with you. Take some time to talk to Him after you finish this Bible Plan. Tell Him about what you’re going through, and ask him for the wisdom and courage you need to make things right.

Prayer: Father, thank You for being such a good, kind, patient Father. Thank You for always being present and ready to help me, even when I sin. The next time I face a mess of my own making, would you help me remember to call out to You for help? I know I’ll need You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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