James said “We all make many mistakes” (3:2). Al Franken said “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way, unless it's a fatal mistake, which, at least, others can learn from.”
When I reflected on Al Franken’s words, it dawned on me that the phrase “fatal mistake” is a spiritual paradox. Hurtful mistakes are a catalyst for radical change: “I’ll never do that again,” we say. In a real sense then, mistakes should be fatal errors—painful actions that result in the death of bad behavior or attitude.
Jesus also affirmed the value of mistakes when He said to Peter (who was about to make the biggest mistake of his life), “I have pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not fail; so when you have repented and turned to me again [you will be able to] strengthen your brothers" (Luke 22:32 edited). Peter's mistake made him aware of his horrible pride, and only afterward, was he fully useful to Jesus ("Feed My sheep"). A fatal mistake is one that kills you—“putting to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you” (Colossians 3:5).
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