Lessons in Grace: Growing Through Our Mistakes

Have you ever had one of those moments where you walked away from a situation knowing you didn’t handle it the way you should have? Where frustration got the best of you, and instead of responding with patience and grace, you reacted in a way you immediately regretted? Yeah… me too.   

It’s easy to talk about grace when things are calm, when no one is pushing your buttons or testing your patience. But when you’re in the thick of it, when emotions are high and someone is being outright difficult, it’s a whole different story. In those moments, our human nature kicks in. The frustration builds, and before we know it, we’ve said something or reacted in a way that doesn’t reflect Christ at all. 

I had a moment like that recently, and if I’m being honest, it didn’t sit right with me afterward. At first, I felt justified in my frustration. But as I sat with it, I realized that just because I was upset didn’t mean my reaction was right. And that’s the thing, God doesn’t call us to be patient, kind, and full of grace only when it’s easy. He calls us to be that way especially when it’s hard. 

James 1:19 reminds us, "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." But let’s be real, this isn’t always easy. Sometimes our emotions take over before we even have a chance to process what’s happening. That’s why it’s so important to stay rooted in prayer, asking God to shape our reactions before we even step into difficult situations.

I know I’m not the only one who struggles with this. We all have moments where we fall short. But what I love about God is that He never turns away from us when we mess up. Instead, He draws us back in, convicts our hearts, and reminds us that His grace is still enough, even when we don’t get it right.   

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to do better. It just means that when we fail, we don’t have to stay stuck in that failure. We bring it to God. We ask for His forgiveness, and if needed, we make things right with the person we hurt. And then? We learn from it. We let Him shape us through the experience so that next time, maybe—just maybe—we’ll pause, take a deep breath, and respond in a way that reflects His love instead of our frustration. 

The enemy wants us to believe that when we fail, we’ve ruined everything. That we’re too far gone, too impatient, too flawed. But God tells us a different story. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." His mercy is new each day, which means no matter how many times we fall, He’s always ready to pick us back up.

So if you’ve found yourself reacting in a way you wish you hadn’t, whether it was snapping at your kids, losing patience with a co-worker, or responding with frustration instead of grace, know this: God’s love isn’t based on perfection. His grace covers you so keep seeking Him, keep growing, and don’t let one moment of weakness define you. He’s still working in you, and remember His mercies are new every morning. 

Lord, I come before You humbled, knowing I didn’t handle things the way I should have. I let frustration get the best of me, and instead of responding with grace, I reacted in a way that didn’t reflect Your love. Father, forgive me. Thank You for Your mercy that meets me in my weakness and for never turning away from me when I fall short. Help me to pause, breathe, and seek You before I respond next time. Fill my heart with patience, wisdom, and a spirit of gentleness. Let my words and actions reflect You, even in difficult moments. In Jesus’ name, Amen.