Well-intended decisions that result in less than ideal outcomes build a bridge to growth and light a path to wisdom.
Colossians 1:9-12
“If I only knew then what I know now, I’d have done things differently.”
Isn’t that the point of learning a lesson?
Yes, but unfortunately, it comes with a price.
Usually, lessons aren’t fun because they involve an uncomfortable, if not painful, realization that whatever decision you made, it didn’t produce the outcome you wanted.
Add to that the fact that we don’t like being wrong and you have yourself a “double-whammy” of self-doubt and regret.
In today’s Tiny Words. Big Life. Bible verse, the Apostle Paul and his fellow servant of God Timothy are giving encouragement to the church at Colossae, who were facing adversity. They needed reassurance that what they were doing was good and correct – and to not fall prey to things that were being said and done to them.
Let’s do an exercise…
Think for a minute about some adversity you face today. It probably won’t take any of us very long to come up with something. 🙁
Next, picture a magnificent bridge that leads from the place of adversity to a place of serenity and fulfilment – where the adversity doesn’t exist.
But there’s a problem. The bridge is dark and you can’t see how to get across it, to the place you want to be – on the other side.
You need lights to show you the way.
That’s where words of encouragement and lessons from the past come in… they provide the fuel to light the way to get past the adversity.
That’s what the Apostle Paul is telling the church. He’s encouraging them to know that their teaching is correct and that they know the things from God will protect them and keep them on the path to eternal life through Jesus Christ – who is the only way to get across the bridge from darkness to the light.
The Tiny Words. Big Life. takeaway is this: Pray to remember that there’s always a bridge (Jesus) in every form of adversity. Across every bridge, there’s always light (The Bible) to lead the way. And there’s always someone encouraging you (The Holy Spirit) to reaffirm the teachings that you’ve learned, will produce the outcome that you seek – the perfect will of God.
So, don’t fret. Give it to God. Pray for strength to release the sting of failure. Pray to see the outcomes as opportunities to grow your faith and reliance on God. Acceptance and thanksgiving only come from faith and obedience.
Finally, pray for spiritual endurance to finish the race because…
When it’s your time to cross the bridge that leads to the Pearly Gates, you don’t want to be thinking…
“If I only knew then what I know now, I’d have done things differently.”
Colossians 1:9-12
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.