In just about any group of friends, there’s always one person that can be counted on to be the voice of reason. There’s also typically another friend that is a bit carefree and notorious for not using the best judgement. This is the friend that leaps first and asks questions later. No matter how many times they get hurt, it seems they never quite learn the lessons of their mistakes. They get involved with the wrong person at the wrong time, but they never see it that way. As the voice of reason, you might see trouble a mile before it hits, and you’re the first one there to help pick up the pieces when it does, but after a while this gets a little old. You want the people you love to wake up and realize that life is too short, and time is too valuable to keep going around in circles. But they just don’t seem to get it, and you wonder if it’s even possible for them to ever get their act together.
1Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us that the love of God is patient and kind, and not proud. It never gives up or loses faith, and the love of God is always hopeful and sticks it out through every situation and circumstance. Our Heavenly Father commands us to love others with His brand of love, and this means we are to be as kind, compassionate, caring and supportive to others as He is to us. Romans 5:8(NLT) tells us, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” He gave the life of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in order to save us from sin and death. Through His resurrection power, God has given us new life, and placed His seed, the Holy Spirit in us. We are His children, and we are to live and walk in His love every moment of our lives.
Our love for others is because of God’s love for us. He works through us, and He always wants what is good for everyone. As His children, wanting what is best for those we love is an expression of the love of Christ. We can see them heading down a path that will lead to disappointment or worse, and we’d like to do whatever we can to prevent them from making these mistakes. This is a natural inclination of love’s way, but the wisdom of God also teaches us to use good judgment. This means we must know when to pray in faith, take our hands off a situation, and allow God to do what only He can.
Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to allow people to walk all over us. That’s not what it means to be loving. Love’s companions are wisdom and faith. Both allow us the good judgment that is crucial in life. Proverbs 4:7(NLT) teaches, “Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” This is where many individuals go off the rails. They don’t greatly value the pursuit of God’s wisdom, and do not take the time to develop good judgment by having faith in God’s Word.
Impatience is widespread even among believers, and it has been for a very long time. We want what we want, when we want it, and this attitude can lead to instability and a lack of good judgement. Psalm 27:14(NLT) tells us, “Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” Our Heavenly Father has a longing to be with us and to spend time with us. How are we responding to this? His expectation is that we will express our love for Him by doing what Psalm 27:14 says, which is to be patient and wait on Him because He is always on time and He never fails.
Patience is a fruit of the Spirit, and we are to exercise this fruit not only with others but, more importantly, in our response to God and His goodness. He will strengthen our hearts through the wait if our faith is firm. When our friends and love ones do not behave in a way that proves they know this, we must go instantly in prayer for them and do so continually. We can’t walk their paths for them. We must pray that God will work within them, that He will cause their eyes and ears to be open and receptive to Godly counsel. And we, ourselves, must wait on Him and not try to get ahead of Him.
It’s inevitable that those we love are going to make terrible mistakes. Even our spouses can take a turn down a troubling path because of their refusal to exercise good judgment. It’s challenging to watch this and even more so to endure the fallout and upset their wrong decisions cause, but our trust in God must be strong. He tells us His desire for all His children in Colossians 1:11-14(NLT). This passage states, “11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
Colossians 1:11-14 makes it clear that life will present challenges. These often impact us through the mistakes of those we treasure. It’s sometimes shocking because we thought they knew better and can’t fathom why they keep getting themselves into the same situations. No matter the condition or circumstance, whether it’s our mistake or the mistakes of those we love, God commands us to be strengthened in His glorious power. He expects us to have the patience and endurance to face these challenges with faith in Him. He’s the One who causes all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. He’s the glue that holds everything together. Through Him, we will always have the victory in Christ, and we must be prayerful and patient with our friends and love ones as God teaches them to know this for themselves. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 601
“When Someone You Love Makes a Terrible Mistake” written by Reverend Fran Mack, edited by Kim Times, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!