How are those new year’s resolutions holding up? You’re now 27 days into the year. Only 64% of them survive the first month according to one 2016 study. Another study labeled January 12 as the “most deadly day” for resolutions.
Here’s what tends to happen: you start off strong, you do great—until you don’t. And since you messed up yesterday, you might as well mess up today…and tomorrow…and now you’re off the wagon.
People battling addictions face the same struggle. Six months of sobriety end in a three-month bender.
What if we planned for the fact that we will fail?
A skydiving instructor explained that it isn’t the initial impact with the ground that kills you. If your chute totally fails, when you hit the ground, you’ll break an awful lot of bones before something worse happens. You bounce – and then land again, but this time, with a bunch of broken bones. It’s what happens after the disaster that proves fatal.
Let’s have high expectations and lofty goals, but let’s plan for what happens after we mess up. Let’s be prepared for the bounce.
If that sounds strange to you, remember that it doesn’t sound weird to God. “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” John set a high goal: he didn’t want us to sin! But there’s a healthy dose of realism and preparation that follows. “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (Read more in 1 John 2:1-6)
Maybe you’ve already broken your new year’s resolution. Don’t let one failure become the reason for a second. Instead, let it be your fuel for a better future.
One reply on “Back on the Wagon”
Matthew you have no idea the blessing you are/have been to me. The struggle is real and I need you to pray for me every now and then when I come to your mind. A lot more factors, not good ones, have come into play since we talked. love you and you sweet family brother.