“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
Sometimes we’re reminded of moments from our past that leave us thinking, “Wait, I did what?” This happened to me recently when my mum casually mentioned a story from my childhood. Apparently, when I was around 4 or 5, I opened the car door while we were driving on the motorway! Now, I have no memory of this (thankfully, I was too young), but just the thought of it left me wondering, "How did I survive that?!"
It got me thinking about all the times in life when I’ve found myself in situations that were just as risky, both intentional and unintentional. Whether it’s staying too long in a bad situation or making choices without fully thinking them through, I’ve been in some foolish positions. And yet, despite all of that, God’s love has never wavered. Even when I opened the “doors” that led to dangerous or unwise outcomes, He was always there, ready to pull me back to safety.
We all have stories like this—moments where, if we’re being honest, we wonder what on earth we were thinking. The beauty of our relationship with God is that His love for us isn’t based on our perfect decision-making or our ability to avoid foolish mistakes. It’s based on His grace.
Think about the story of Jonah. Jonah tried to run from God’s calling, and in doing so, found himself in the belly of a great fish. But even in Jonah’s disobedience, God pursued him, rescued him, and still used him to fulfill His purpose (Jonah 1-3). That’s how much God desires us, despite the times we take wrong turns.
There have been times when I’ve stubbornly tried to fix situations on my own, ignoring God’s guidance. And every time, I’ve ended up in more trouble than when I started. But here’s the amazing part: God doesn’t abandon us in our messes. Psalm 103:14 tells us, “For He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.”
God’s love for us isn’t dependent on our ability to “get it right.” Even in our moments of weakness and foolishness, He remains faithful. He knows we’ll make mistakes—sometimes big ones—but He is always ready to redeem those moments and draw us closer to Him.
It’s easy to feel unworthy of love when we think about all the times we’ve fallen short. Yet God’s love is unconditional. He doesn’t just love the "best" version of us, but the flawed, imperfect version too. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul reminds us that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. It’s in those moments of failure and foolishness that God’s grace shines the brightest.
So, whether it’s opening a car door on the motorway or making decisions that lead to regret, remember this: God still wants you. He loves you more than you can imagine, and nothing you’ve done—or will do—can separate you from that love.
Think of a time when you found yourself in a foolish or unwise situation. How was God’s love and faithfulness revealed to you in that moment? How does knowing that God’s love is unconditional bring you comfort today?
Dear Lord,
Thank You for loving me in all my messes, both past and present. I may not always make the best choices, but I know that Your love never fails. Help me to trust You, even when I’m tempted to go my own way. Thank You for always being there, ready to catch me when I fall. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
