Understanding God’s Grace and Wisdom: A Reflection on Growth and Decisions

Do you ever wonder what we go through in life? We experience painful moments, miss opportunities, and sometimes aren’t there when we should have been. Later, we find ourselves saying things like, “If I only knew then what I know now…” But the truth is, we didn’t know then—but now we do, and we have gained new wisdom.

In this moment, you carry the wisdom born from those painful experiences and even the poor decisions you made. I was talking to a good friend recently, and he was really beating himself up. He said, “I should have done things differently, I could have, I would have…” I told him, “Yes, you would have, and you will. But don’t judge the decisions of the past with the wisdom of today. That only leads to paralysis, and the shame will pull you deeper into despair.”

How many of you have felt this way? This wasn’t just about missing a stock opportunity. This was real, deep pain. I told my friend, “You’re literally using today’s wisdom as a weapon to punish yourself for your past decisions. But God doesn’t want that for you.”

The wisdom of God is that He chose you knowing you’d make mistakes. He knew you would do things that might seem “dumb,” but He chose you anyway. This is evident in Luke 5:3, where the Bible says that Jesus saw two boats at the water’s edge. Jesus didn’t just randomly pick a boat. He chose Simon’s boat, before Simon even knew who he was. Simon hadn’t yet grown or done anything right—yet Jesus chose his boat.

Later in the story, Peter calls himself a sinful man, but Jesus still chose him. Some of you may feel unworthy, like Peter did, but I want you to know: Peter’s destiny wasn’t based on his decision—it started with Jesus choosing him.

Even in a fishing village with many boats, Jesus picked Peter’s. Was it by chance? No. Jesus knew what Peter would become, just like He knows where you are now and where you’re going. He didn’t wait for Peter to get things right. Jesus knew Peter’s flaws, his brokenness, and still chose him to follow.

God’s plan didn’t start when Peter decided to cast his nets. It didn’t start with a decision you made, but with God’s decision. He knew everything about you—the good, the bad, and the parts you don’t even like to acknowledge—and He still chose you. He chose you, despite your mistakes, and He called you to follow.

So, when you understand that God’s grace and purpose for you didn’t begin with your mistakes, you can stop using today’s wisdom to judge the past. God’s grace transcends your shortcomings, and His calling is based on His decision, not your own.

God knew you were going to struggle, but He still called you. His purpose didn’t end with your last mistake. It began before you were even born, and it’s still unfolding today. Remember, where it starts determines where it stops—and for you, it starts with God’s grace.