When You Are Not Your Best

Psalm 32:1,2

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them…

“Today is not going to be me at my best,...” said the caption on the Tiktok video. The face on screen showed tears leaking from soggy eyes that were definitely expressing hurt. There are a lot of confessional short reels posted online these days from users who seem to think that bearing their soul to the world is helpful, maybe to ease their pain.

But this kind of transparency can often boomerang. The pressure from hurtful social media interactions is now believed to be a significant reason that suicide among young people is increasing. People can be mean, especially when they hide behind an anonymous online comment.

Do you determine your self worth by what others say about you? What do you do when you are not at your best and your emotions are screaming at you with condemnation and judgment? The Psalmist tells us that there is a blessing, a sense of inner calm and peace, inside the person who knows that the Lord has forgiven them and is not holding their faults against them. The ultimate powerful being that created the universe, whose standards of good are perfection in word and deed, is willing to wipe away your wrong, to forgive you of all your transgressions. He invites you to a relationship where you see yourself through His eyes and He will surround you with love and favor if you call on Him for mercy, if you trust in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to save you.

Have you experienced that kind of peace? You will not find it if you keep trying to weigh yourself on the scale of popular culture and the opinions of others. The world wants to squeeze you into its mold while God wants to renew your mind and transform your life.

It starts by humbling yourself and agreeing that you need His forgiveness and mercy. Does that give you license to take a nose dive into a lifestyle of debauchery, giving into your sin? No, a forgiven sinner is a repentant sinner and not a hypocrite. But knowing you are forgiven is the only way to begin to manage the struggles of life. You don't have to wonder if you are loved and that gives you hope.