Aren’t I Greater?

Have you ever made a mistake that overwhelmed you with guilt and the consequences of your action seemed horrendous?  The Bible says that in the multitude of words there is sin (Proverbs 10:19).  Or in a paraphrase, the more you talk, the more likely you are to sin.  Being a preacher and a teacher, I speak a lot, which also means the likelihood of me sinning in the midst of speaking is great.  I do not want to say things wrong,  but it does happen.  The challenge is not just to keep from doing or saying things wrong, but how does one deal with the guilt and condemnation that the enemy puts upon us when we do sin?
   We know from Romans 8:1 “that there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus”  but there can still be great regret and grief over the action, and indeed it is good that there is for this can be a motivation for learning and changing.  However, even after repentance and change has taken place there can still be the lingering regret and grief because of the long range consequences of our actions.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we were perfect and made no mistakes!!!  Unfortunately we all sin and fall short of God’s perfect nature (Rom. 3:23).
   Recently my heart was heavy as I contemplated  a recent blunder, and regretted  what might be the long range consequences of my fault.  In the midst of the remorse a thought, as if from God, came to me,  “Why are you overwhelmed with your weakness and your fault, aren’t I Greater?”  It was as if God was challenging me by asking, “are your mistakes greater than My ability to do good in the midst of those mistakes?”  Somehow, I had subtly allowed myself to feel that my actions had more power than God’s.  I was feeling trapped by my actions without including God into the situation.
  I am not saying that we should sin so that God might show His power, God forbid that we should do that (Romans 6:1).
   Take a moment to praise God that He forgives and that He also works to bring about His good in all situations, to those who love Him (Romans 8:28).