Hey there. Have you ever imagined what it would be like if Jesus was right there with you in the car on the way to school? What would he say to help you kick off your week on the right foot? Well, that's what hot air balloon rides with Jesus is all about. Let's make tonight's car ride to the dentist a great one. I'm President Justin and today we... Hold on a second. That doesn't sound right. This is Carpooling with Jesus, and you're probably going to school, not the dentist, and I'm not the president. I have a way better job. I'm a pastor. Looks like I did something we all deal with sometimes. I made a mistake. Yep. Everyone makes them, even grownups, even people in the Bible. But here's the good news. Mistakes aren't the end of the story. Mistakes are actually an opportunity to learn, grow, and keep moving forward. Today's verse is out of the book of Proverbs. It's a book in the Bible in the Old Testament. It's filled with short, helpful sayings that teach us about things like being kind, telling the truth, and working hard. Most of the book was written by King Solomon. In Proverbs chapter 24, verse 16, it says, though a righteous person falls seven times, he will get up, but the wicked will stumble into ruin. Now, what does that mean? It's like this. Even when we mess up, and we all do, we don't have to stay down. God is always there to help us stand back up, try again, and keep going. Isn't it amazing to know God is there for us to help us, no matter how many times we make mistakes? Guess what? Even some of the heroes in the Bible made mistakes. You are not alone. Have you heard of King David or Jonah or Peter, one of Jesus's friends? All three made big mistakes. The important thing is when they realized they messed up, they each asked God for forgiveness and worked to make things right. That's the key. Mistakes aren't about failing. They're about learning and growing. Here's an example for you. Imagine you forget to clean your room after your parents asked you. They weren't happy, and maybe you felt bad. You could learn from that. Maybe you decide to listen more carefully next time, or make a plan to remember important tasks, like writing it down or deciding next time to do it right away so you don't forget. See, mistakes help us grow when we take the time to learn from them. We all make mistakes, and they are like little stepping stones. Each one helps us get closer to becoming the person God created us to be. What do you do when you make a mistake and you're not sure what to do next? Jesus makes it easy for us by putting people in our lives to help us when we're confused. We can always go to our parents for guidance. Why are they a great place to turn? First, because they love you so much. And second, because when they were kids, they made mistakes too, and they learned from them. Trust me, ask them to tell you some stories sometime. Plus, we have teachers at school who are there to help us when we need it. Remember, every teacher was once a student too, so they understand what it's like to make mistakes. You can always go to them for support and help. When you make mistakes, you may have to fix it. You may have to say sorry. And you may have to ask for help. But you will always learn something if you allow yourself to learn the lesson God has for you. God is there to help you when you make mistakes. Don't forget, mistakes are just stepping stones to something better. Keep learning and keep growing. Thanks for joining me on Carpooling with Jesus. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. Here's today's question. Try and answer it before you leave the car. What's a mistake you've made recently, and what did you learn from it? See you next time on Carpooling with Jesus.
