No One’s Perfect

If we confess our sins to [God], he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:9

You may have heard someone say, “No one’s perfect,” after making a mistake. Perhaps your friend forgot she was going to call you or that she promised to let you use her math book. Or maybe your sister borrowed something of yours and lost it. Your friend or sister may say, “No one’s perfect,” in hopes that you’ll overlook what she did. Her response may or may not work, but it is true that no one’s perfect. Everyone, even God’s special princesses, messes up at times.

Sometimes when you mess up, it’s a real mistake. You may have accidentally knocked over your glass of milk. Or maybe you forgot to finish your homework assignment. Other times you may do something that breaks one of God’s rules for you. Maybe something made you angry, and you lashed out at your mom or dad. Or maybe you saw that a classmate got the very outfit you wanted but couldn’t get because your mom said it was too expensive. Jealousy took over, and you said something unkind to cover your feelings. Perhaps you panicked when you couldn’t remember an answer on the history test, and you peeked at your classmate’s uncovered answers. All these things are wrong and make you feel unclean, or guilty, on the inside.

The good news is that you don’t have to live with that bad feeling. No matter what you’ve done, you can tell God about it. He’s promised to forgive you. That forgiveness takes away the guilt in your heart and replaces it with peace. God gives you joy in place of guilt. So don’t let bad feelings build up. Talk to God about your mistakes, and accept his forgiveness.

If you aren’t sure your heart is clean, pray these words that David prayed: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:23-24).