“When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.”
– Proverbs 19:3
Unfortunately, we often resemble this proverb!!! Too often, our unbridled energy and enthusiasm, or our restlessness and dissatisfaction, or our selfishness and sin lead us down a path to failure and disaster. We ignore the teachings of Scripture and the warnings of our friends. We race ahead of reason and planning. We ignore the warning signs along the way and foolishness turns to disaster. Then, instead of being embarrassed, our first reaction is what? To get angry, particularly with God!
So often, when we mess up, our first response is to get mad and lash out. We blame our friends and associates. We blame God for things going badly. We wonder where God is. We beg and plead for Him to bail us out. We grow indignant at having to endure the logical consequences for our own foolish decisions.
Getting out of the ruin we foolishly bring upon ourselves begins with taking responsibility. We must admit to ourselves and to God that we were foolish (which we hate doing). We must accept that we’ve brought ourselves into that situation (which we hate doing). We must desire to genuinely change, not simply have our circumstances changed. Only then are we actually ready to pray honestly, repentantly, and wisely. Then we can be confident that despite our foolishness, God loves us, God hears us, and God welcomes our repentance. Then we can be confident that if we are followers of Jesus, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9)