When You Mess Up, Don't Give Up

Hey, carpool crew. Happy Wednesday. Maybe you had a rough day yesterday, or you're thinking about a mistake you made recently. I'm Pastor Justin, and I'm so glad you're here, because this month we're walking through Proverbs for your school life, and today's verse is for anyone who's ever messed up, felt discouraged, or thought about giving up. In other words, it's for all of us, because honestly, we have all felt that way at some point. Our verse today is from 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. Solomon isn't talking about someone who's perfect. He's saying even people who want to do the right thing still fall and make mistakes. They sin, they fail, they mess up. I know I mess up too sometimes. But here's the difference. The righteous person, the wise person, they get back up. They will not stay down, and not just once, not just twice, seven times, which really just means over and over again. Now, do you remember how I've said Jesus read these proverbs when he was a kid? Well, he probably read this verse when Solomon's talking about seven times, which again really means there is no end. You just keep getting up. Well, if you remember in the New Testament one time, Peter asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, and he said, seven times? And Jesus said no, 70 times seven. Now, is that a reference to this verse? Did he remember that Solomon said, just keep going seven times, which really means just over and over again? Maybe because Jesus read this proverb too. Now here's the thing, because God doesn't want or expect us to be perfect, he does call us to have perseverance, which means you may mess up and that's okay, but you keep trying again. You will say the wrong thing. You'll lose your temper. You'll make a bad decision, but this verse says that falling, failing, making mistakes doesn't disqualify you. What matters is what you do next. Will you stay down and give up, or will you get back up and keep trying to follow Jesus and make wise choices? If Jesus saw you feeling embarrassed about messing up or disappointed in yourself, he might put his hand on your shoulder and say, I'm not done with you. Let's get back up together. See, Jesus didn't come for perfect people. He came for those who fall and want to rise again. Because here's the truth, wise people fall, but they rise back up and they try again. They don't pretend it didn't happen, but they don't let it stop them either. So what are some ways you can apply this today? First, don't expect perfection. Expect to make mistakes and grow from them. Second, when you fall, don't quit. Talk to God and get back up. Keep trying to make wise choices. And lastly, remember that real strength is in the getting back up, not never failing again. Remember, no matter where you are or how you're listening, God loves you. And parents, if you like today's episode, consider posting it on a Facebook group. Let other people know about Carpooling with Jesus so they can have conversations with their kids too. Now, before you go, answer this question together, what's one mistake you've made recently and how can you get back up from it this week? I'll see you tomorrow on Carpooling with Jesus.