The Lord says:
"As you keep doing what I've called you to do and keep building what I've called you to build, do not lose heart and do not allow anyone or anything to discourage you. For I am in the midst of giving you new strategies and new wisdom to accomplish all these. Receive all these from Me in this time and season. I am even going to turn your mistakes and failures around, however big or small, and turn them into something good for you. So, take heart. Look beyond all those mistakes and failures. Look to Me. All things are eventually going to work together for good for you."
We all make mistakes in life. We all have experienced some kind of failures before in life. Given a choice, no one would want to make mistakes or see failures in whatever he or she does.
So, if you think you blew it, and you are now suffering the consequences of it, the Lord is saying to you, "Take heart. Do not be discouraged. There is hope for you."
Of course, you can learn from all those mistakes or failures of yours. But don't linger or dwell in there. You know why? Because the Lord has something new for you!
Romans 8:28 says that 'God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and who are the called according to His purpose for them.'
Yes, according to His purpose for you, beloved!
So, in spite of your past mistakes or failures, or even humiliation or shame, the Lord is saying He will work things together for your good! He can even use those mistakes and turn them around to be something good! What's your part? Your part is to look to the Lord and keep putting all your trust in the Lord!
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.'
One example in the Scripture about God turning things around can be found in 2 Kings chapter 6.
2 Kings 6:1-3. And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell." So Elisha answered, "Go." Then one said, "Please consent to go with your servants." And Elisha answered, "I will go."
2 Kings 6:4-5. So Elisha went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the river, and he cried out and said, "Alas, master! For it was borrowed."
Have you been in a situation when you are like saying "Alas!"? This may be an old expression. But this is an expression for disappointment, regret, or sadness; especially when there seems to have no more hope that the situation can be changed.
Let's see the symbolic meaning of 2 Kings chapter 6 here. To begin with, what is the purpose of the ax? Ax is used to cut trees. It is for the purpose of building something. For example, furniture, house, etc. In other words, ax is meant 'to build something'.
In the context of what God is saying to us today, this speaks of 'building what God has called you or spoken for you to build in your life'. It can be in the ministry, in your vocation, or in your profession. But in this passage, the ax head fell into the river! You know what? Once fallen, it's not easy to retrieve it! Why? Because it's heavy. It's made of iron. So, that's why the man cried out "Alas!" Not only that. The ax was a borrowed ax. It wasn't his. It means if he loses it, he's going to need to pay it back to the owner. But God! God always has a way to turn things around for His beloved. And it is the same with you too!
See what's next.
2 Kings 6:6-7. So the man of God (Elisha) said, "Where did it fall?" And that man showed him the place. So Elisha cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore Elisha said, "Pick it up for yourself." So that man reached out his hand and took it.
Now, that was some kind of a miracle! That really defies logic. I say it defies logic because the iron ax is supposed to be heavy! I mean, how can the ax head float just by throwing a much lighter stick into the river? Again, but God! You see, nothing is impossible to God! He will know how to make a way for you, where there seems to be no way. He will know how to turn your mistakes around. Yes, He can turn even your oversight around. What is 'oversight'? Any unintentional mistake or failure to do something.
By the way, the name 'Elisha' in Hebrew is 'El' meaning 'God', and 'Shuwa' meaning 'supplies, help, hope'. Even though Elisha himself was just a human, this name 'Elisha' is symbolic. It is symbolic of who your God is. And here, you can see that He is a God who knows how to supply you. He is a God of help and hope, even when you feel helpless or hopeless in your situation or in your life at the moment.
So, take heart. Just as Elisha was there to give a solution to that man who dropped the iron ax head, God is also here to give you a solution to whatever you are going through in your life right now. Yes, even for the mistakes, failures, or oversights in your life!
How about the stick that Elisha used to cause the heavy iron ax head to float? In this passage here, it really does look like it's just another stick that Elisha cut from a tree nearby. But, what is the symbolic meaning of this stick here? It speaks of what Jesus has done for you on the cross! Yes, on the wooden cross! In other words, on the tree!
Just as the stick caused the iron ax head to float (and that's a miracle indeed), what Jesus has done on the cross for you can reverse things around for your good! Just don't limit how God is going to do it!
Prayer:
"O Lord God, we thank You for Your words of encouragement for us today. There's nothing that You cannot turn around in our lives, no matter what mistake we've made in life, however big or small. No mistake, no failure, no oversight, and in fact, no work of the enemy can hold You back from turning things around in our lives. Because You are a great God. You are great, and greatly to be praised. You are strong and mighty in all Your ways. You are all-wise, all-knowing, all-present, and all-powerful. You are unlimited in who You are and what You can do. And nothing on earth can stop You from accomplishing Your plans and purposes for each of our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen."