Admit your shortcomings

It seems that everywhere you turn today, somebody is making an excuse for his or her poor choices, performance, or behaviour or failing to admit a weakness or shortcoming. Yet we all make mistakes. One of the best examples of admitting a mistake is found in the account of David being unjustly pursued by King Saul. David became a fugitive and, in the process, unknowingly jeopardized the lives of certain priests when he asked for their help. Ahimelech the priest gave him food and a sword and inquired of God on his behalf. Doeg, King Saul’s chief herdsman, witnessed the whole thing and squealed on the priest. Saul confronted Ahimelech, accused him of conspiring with David, and ordered Doeg to kill him and eighty-five other priests and their entire families. “Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David. When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the Lord, David exclaimed, ‘I knew it! When I saw Doeg…there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father’s family’” (1 Samuel 22:20-22 NLT). What an admission! No excuses, just an acknowledgement that he had made a terrible mistake in seeking their help. His next statement shows his commitment to not repeat the mistake and to making amends whenever possible: “Stay here with me…I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both” (1 Samuel 22:23 NLT). Humans make mistakes. They have blind spots. God is present to support our every weakness. Peace comes when we admit our shortcomings to one another.