What did I do wrong?


English: Saint paul arrested

English: Saint paul arrested (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My failures and disappointments often move me to question God. Nevertheless, I never do. I am a man of faith and I have learned not to blame or question God. I heed the advice of the apostle Paul instead: “Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when face with trials of various kinds. Take comfort that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. So let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach. However, let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that the wind drives and tosses. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:2-8).

Still, when I am face with disappointments, I engulf myself in the mire of my failures and short comings. I keep asking myself, “What did I do wrong?” I have dotted all my I’s, and crossed all my T’s, yet there are times when I feel hopeless and incompetent and unworthy. Even a sense of emptiness creeps up on me when I least expect. What did I do wrong? Could it be that the old cliché, “What goes around comes around,” is catching up to me?

I need answers and fast. So I fall on my knees before the throne of grace and have a little talk with Jesus. He turned to me and said. “Son, I know why you have come”. You need to make peace with your guilty conscience. “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in your house. I needed clothes, and you did not clothe me. I was sick, and in prison and you did not look after me”.

“Then I say to Him, ‘Lord, when did I see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

“He reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me’. (Matthew 25:42-45)

Do you neglect the poor and needy? If you do, the Bible says in Matthew 25:46 you will go away in everlasting punishment.

14 comments

    1. Thanks so much Minister Glenda, for your kind words and encouragement. I am happy to return the sentiments to you.
      God blesses.

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    1. Thanks so much for your input Lady D. I sincerely appreciate your continued support. God blesses.

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  3. We cannot help everyone, but we SHOULD help every needy person with whom we come into contact. In fact, we should be on the lookout for the sad, lonely, needy as we do our shopping or whatever.
    Thanks for the reminder.

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    1. Amen! Most people do not need money. They just need someone to love and encourage them.
      Thanks so much for your timely comment Angela. God blesses.

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  5. I felt guilty reading this because it reminded me of the times I’ve chosen to keep walking and not stop and help;the very thought of disappointing God takes over me.
    Working on not judging myself and put my selfish pride aside and just do it! Love and serve the Lord through serving others 🙂 thanks for ur good words

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  6. Hey Noel,

    I wanted to reply to this post and have just now had the time to get back to it. I thought this was an awesome post. I like the way you placed “yourself” in there and in doing so, found out what was wrong. How many times when we feel this way, do we forget to search ourselves, go to Jesus, and realize He will tell us through His Word. Really good and enjoyed reading. You have been such a blessing to me and so have your prayers for me and my family. God Bless, SR

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment S.R. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, the apostle Paul tells us that he is human, and he struggles with the flesh like everybody else. Here, is what he said: “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I should be a castaway”. Christians must come to grips with their faults and short comings before they try to point out the faults and short comings of others. We must examine ourselves and fix the faults first, so that when we talk about Jesus the actions we demonstrate back up the words.
      God blesses.

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