Equipping young women professionals with young families to find fulfillment, contentment and joy as mothers and home makers without losing sight of who they are as women.

Volume 09, Issue 11: Hope for a Comeback

Reflecting on last week's "Fortitude in Relationships" post, I thought it's necessary to also demonstrate that we always have hope for a comeback after we mess up, that there's hope in spite of our shortcomings. Borrowing from the YouVersion Bible study plan I referred to in last week's post, let's take a journey through David's mess and how God helped him through the consequences of his mess thereafter.

With my own twists and additions to what was shared by Sherene Ellen Rajaratnam from the Bible, David committed adultery with Bathsheba when he was supposed to be in the battlefield with his troops as was the custom of Kings in his day. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to hide his mistake instead of admitting it. Eventually he arranged the murder of Bathsheba's husband Uriah to conceal his mistake. He then took Bathsheba as his wife and the baby born to them from the affair died immediately. However, God still blessed David and Bathsheba with another son, Solomon, who become the heir to his throne.

When David was confronted by God through prophet Nathan, he repented and went through the consequences of his actions. Yes, he had to live through seeing his son rape his daughter and then reject her. He had to see murder inside his own family. He had to run away from his palace, in fear for his life from his own son. He had to hear how his son slept with his concubines in the open for everyone to see. Instead of rejoicing the death of his son who was trying to wipe him out, he grieved, which brought confusion to his men and the kingdom as his family's losses overwhelmed him. He failed to encourage the men who risked their lives for him against his son. His life seemed a mess.

Despite all that drama, this same David was called "a man after God's own heart". This was because of his response to God's confrontation, in addition to how he lived his life before the Lord in general. David accepted and confessed his sin when God confronted him through his prophet. He did not blame anyone or give excuses but took responsibility and repented wholeheartedly.

David willingly went through the consequences of his sin with God's help. He did not get angry with God but went through life getting his strength from God. This shows us that there can be healing in our lives when we respond to God's call with repentance. Even after bad choices, God will help us find healing and purpose in life when we start trusting him with our choices.

What stands out most for me in this story is that life didn't stop for David after he messed up. When he repented, he continued walking in step with God. God also blessed his marriage with Bathsheba and gave him a heir to his throne from that relationship. A heir could have come from any one of David's other sons from his other wives, but God chose the son from the wife David had stolen and killed to cover up his sin for! This reveals the vastness of God's mercies towards us. Yes, David had to face the consequences of his sin but he went on with the business of living by God's grace, and so can we.

We make messes in a myriad of things from sin, to relationships, to finances, to career and business and so forth. It's wonderful to know that no matter the mess, or its magnitude, we can always recover and be restored by God's grace. If we work with Him, God is able to see us through the consequences of our mess while establishing us in the blessings He has ordained for us to walk in. No matter the mess, there is hope for a comeback.

For His Glory,

Lillian Chebosi