January 7, 2026

“Therefore, the Lord is waiting to show you mercy, and is rising up to show you compassion, for the Lord is a just God. All who wait patiently for him are happy.” – Isaiah 30:18

When I was young, I remember watching this artist on public television that would show you how to paint. He would create these beautiful landscapes while talking you through the process, even telling you what colors and what brushes he was using. He made it all look so easy. According to him, one of the keys to his success was that “there are no mistakes, only happy accidents.” If something didn’t go exactly the way he had planned, he could just take that seemingly ruined corner of the painting and make something beautiful out of it. He shared this with his students because he knew, if you were afraid of messing up, then you would never try.

This is exactly what God does with us. If you read the stories of Abraham, David, Uriah, or Jonah, you quickly realize that God can bring good out of the extremes of our folly. He is eagerly waiting to show mercy and compassion. We should always be moving forward in godly purpose, understanding that at times we may fall. Don’t be afraid of the mistakes, be afraid of remaining stagnant in your growth or, the worst folly of all, hiding from God. As this year begins, make a commitment to move forward. Be more than you were last year. As you do, you will fall, God will be merciful, and your mistakes can simply be “happy accidents” as you become more and more the person he desires you to be.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy, compassion, and patience in my failures. Thank You for seeing me as a child learning to walk and not expecting perfection as I learn. Pick me up when I fall, rescue me when I fail, and bring good from my folly as I grow closer to You.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Shane Cannon