Daily Devotional

I remember playing a lot of video games as a kid. From Super Mario Brothers to Guitar Hero, from Sega Genesis to PlayStation, my childhood included a fair amount of video games and there have been times that I wish that my life was more like a video game. Meaning I wished there was a button that I could hit to just start over. Have you ever been there? Have you ever wished there was a “do-over” button on life when things don’t go as planned or worse, when things are falling apart?
 
One of our biblical heroes of the faith, King David, also had a moment in his life where I imagine he wished life had a “do-over” button. Even though he pursued God and was rightfully named as a man after God’s own heart, David experienced a massive failure in his life and leadership. I’m pretty sure David felt like his life was “game over”. The mistake that David made was huge, but God’s forgiveness was bigger. God didn't abandon him. Instead, God sent Nathan, a trusted friend, to confront David about his harmful decisions and assure him of God's forgiveness. Though it took time and effort, God gave him a chance to make things right.
 
Like David, there are times in our lives where we’ve messed up, hurt ourselves, maybe even hurt others, and have felt like there is no way out of our failure. But David’s story reminds us about the uniqueness of the God we serve. It’s in moments like this that God can step in and give us a restart. While real-life restarts may not be as easy as they are in a video game, they are within reach. No matter how big your mistake, God's forgiveness is bigger. And when you feel like a failure, God helps you restart.

English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.