Have you made a mistake in your relationship communication? Maybe you lost your temper or said things you wish you had not said. Maybe you’ve made decisions that damaged the relationship. What do you do now?
7 Tips on How to Handle Your Relationship Mistakes
- Accept responsibility for your mistake and don’t condemn yourself. Guess what? You are not perfect and it’s okay. God doesn’t require you to be perfect. He knows you are in a learning process and He is pleased with your efforts.
- Realize you have an enemy who creates dark thoughts that put you under condemnation and torture you with fear and shame when you make a mistake. Don’t stay in the dark. The Light brings you the truth and the awareness of forgiveness, redemption and second chances.
- Don’t give up! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and give it another try.
- Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. Micah 7:8 (NIV)
- “For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.” Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) The righteous man knows victory lies in getting back up after a fall. He knows to learn from his mistake and to make attempts to do better until he gets it.
4. Ask God to help you, to direct your steps and show you the best response.
- If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. Psalm 37:23, 24 (NIV 1984) teach you better ways.
5. Believe in God’s ability to use your mistakes for good. Ask Him what is your part to help redeem the mistake and bring good out of it.
- “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NIV)
6. Apologize if you have offended someone. An apology is often hard and it helps to remember that it benefits you as the other person.
7. Receive God’s forgiveness and move on.
These tips are good not only for relationship mistakes but for dealing with any kind of mistake or failure. God’s mercies are new every morning. Regardless of what has happened, when you cooperate with Him, He will give you second chances or another opportunity and make all things new.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18, 20 (NIV)
What about you? How do you handle relationship mistakes? Were these suggestions helpful to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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