Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Proverbs 24:16-17 -- On Falling and Rising

"For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:"
Proverbs 24:16-17


The interesting thing about these verses I think is that *everybody* falls.  And we shouldn't be glad when people stumble, enemy or not... precisely because we all do fall, and laughing at each other seems kind of discouraging.  I think the important lesson here is to not give up and settle for mischief or anything else less than God.  When we fall, let's get back up and try again... whether it is 7 times or 7 billion.  The amount of failure doesn't matter at all.  What matters is getting back up, rededicating ourselves to God, and really doing the work to change our lives.  Often that means trying things a new way, since we know more about what *doesn't* work each time. :)  But with God, we'll eventually get it.  Nephi and his brothers didn't get the brass plates on the first try, and their family ran into some big problems getting to the promised land... but they did get there, with time, persistence, and by remembering God and allowing him to guide their choices.  Today, let's not worry about the falling.  Let's worry about rising, just like the sun, every morning.  Let's get back up, and helping others up when we can.  Let's look to God, and let him help us try again, and keep working to do better and better every day.

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