God’s Stamp of Approval

“True Confessions” — I think that was the title of an old movie, a sleazy magazine, a novel, and an informative newspaper column. And, today, I’m coming clean on some personal true confessions of my own. Ever go through a season of self-regret?

I’m there today. I’m reading ME like a book and this book is lack luster. This chapter is about “impatience”. I’ve become an impatient Austin driver. I weave in and out of lanes to get to my next pit-stop faster. Those slow drivers keep me from on-time arrivals! I can be impatient and annoyed at drive-thrus when their service is way too slow. After all, I must be on time to pick up my grandson after school. And, to my chagrin, I was late when I was stuck in a Chick-Fil-A drive-thru line for 20 minutes. I love Chick-Fil-A and their founder, Truett Cathy, who saw the importance of closing on Sundays so that he and his employees could set aside one day to rest and worship if they choose.

Chick-Fil-A, as we all know, is also known for being the fastest service drive thru. Typically, it is. But not last week. And what does this sweet, little ole lady say to the already overloaded window person? “It’s official. I hereby award you all with the medal for slowest Chick-Fil-A ever!” The cashier apologizes: “I’m so sorry. We’re understaffed today!” Oh, my heart explodes with deep regret! I tell my grandson why I’m late and the words I said to the cashier. He says: “Nana, you are a Karen!” I ask “What is a Karen?” He replies: “It means you are a white woman who complains about service because you think you are privileged.” WHAT? Dear Lord, please—no not me! That is NOT who I want to be.

I’m pulling up James 5:16 that reads: “Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” With those words, I know God is “tenderizing” me, even as I make my confession to my “one-anothers”. I desperately want to be that righteous woman. I am grateful for my conscience-indicator that reveals when I’m out of sorts. Ever since my sweet mama’s final words to me when I would leave her oversight were “Let your conscience be your guide”, my conscience has been my constant companion.

I know that it is my conscience and my grandson’s admonition that I want to correct this out-of-alignment in me.
More than anything, I desire God’s stamp of approval. I type this blog and remember the Apostle Peter and how he kept messing up! Maybe that’s why I identify with him today. I mess up too! I’m thankful God loves “messer-uppers”! Peter’s whole life was one big object lesson. He did some great things and some not great things. I can relate. That’s why I love the last chapter of John’s gospel that contains a conversation between Jesus and Peter after Jesus was resurrected AND after Peter had denied Jesus three times.

Jesus showed Peter an ocean of grace. He gave him three opportunities to say, “I love you.” That was the kind of forgiveness that can transform a life. After this conversation, we find Peter preaching and sharing the Good News! Like Peter, when we stumble, fall, and have regrets, we ask God for His forgiveness. I know Jesus well enough to know — He forgives. He knows and loves me, the real ME and the real YOU. And His forgiveness is big enough for us! Jesus never turns away anyone who’s willing to admit they’ve messed up and need His help. That’s repentance and today I repent. That means agreeing with God that His way is best, saying we’re sorry to Him and others for how we’ve blown it, and committing to do better in the future with His help.

Now, the next step is to learn from our mistakes. Maybe we won’t perfectly always obey here on earth, but there’s certainly a lot we can learn from our failures. Like Peter, we all need to run to Jesus. Forgiveness lies in one direction. We’ll find it at the cross. That doesn’t mean our work is over, but it does mean we’re heading in the right direction. I’m heading that direction NOW!