Lesser of Two Confessions

I hate being the bearer of bad news.

I hate it even more on the occasion I'm the lead character.

And it's easy, after any given number of occasions to begin to default to worst case scenarios and how people might respond to current circumstances based on how different people responded on prior occasion to an entirely different set of circumstances.

How appropriate to have watched Facing The Giants over the weekend. Fear of outcomes before they happen. Attitudes of defeat before we have taken steps towards any attempts at victory.

So a confession of our trust in God becomes a test..A binary state. You do. Or you don't. And so do I. Or not.

I had an epiphany yesterday afternoon.

God's love. His compassion. Forgiveness. Always available.
Man's... not so much. Not always. Not when we think we need it most.

Thus, is it possible it's easier to confess our sins to God than it is our faults to man?

Our failures in this life may not even be sin. Just mistakes. Bad calls. Missed opportunities. Yet owning up to them.... is challenging. Difficult. Frustrating.

Whatever we have to offer... complete or incomplete, we and all of our stuff belong to God, first and foremost.

Pastors have it too. Experiences and responses carry over. Mistakes and missteps have opportunity to follow us. Ministry can frustrate and just like life, details need to be sorted out. But whatever transpires, trust in God for all circumstances...

If we say we trust Him, then we must. When we struggle to do so, we must pray.

On this #associateTuesday, pray for pastors struggling to continue to trust in the midst of difficult circumstance with outcomes unknown. Pray for the faults and failures that the enemy attempts to hold over, to hinder from moving forrward in all that God has planned. Pray for God's grace in matters where there are concerns that man's response is greater than God. May their be a reassuring peace that accompanies the knowledge that God is on the throne, still in control & working all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

His mercies are new every morning, as we walk in His grace & live for His glory.

- PNC

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