Our man who lives in a relationship with God is, however, still human and he doesn’t always understand God’s ways. He is not alone in this. Gideon in the Bible was such a man.

The Lord’s angel appeared to him there and said, “The Lord is with you, brave and mighty man!”Gideon said to him, “If I may ask, sir, why has all this happened to us if the Lord is with us? What about all the wonderful things that our fathers told us the Lord used to do—how he brought them out of Egypt? The Lord has abandoned us and left us to the mercy of the Midianites.” Judges 6:12-13

But in spite of struggles in his life, he knows he must always looks to God for strength. The prophet Habakkuk writes:  The Sovereign Lord gives me strength. He makes me sure-footed as a deer, and keeps me safe on the mountains. Habakkuk 3:17-19

And sometimes he doubts and he lacks faith, like the disciple Thomas, who had trouble believing that Jesus had really been raised from the dead. If you have a moment, read John 20:24-29.

Like Peter, the modern man in a relationship with God is sometimes embarrassed to acknowledge that he knows Jesus. Just then a cock crowed, and Peter remembered what Jesus had told him: “Before the cock crows, you will say three times that you do not know me.” He went out and wept bitterly. You can read the whole story in Matthew 26:69-75.

And yes, sometimes he stumbles … The following spring, at the time of the year when kings usually go to war, David sent out Joab with his officers and the Israelite army; they defeated the Ammonites and besieged the city of Rabbah. But David himself stayed in Jerusalem. One day, late in the afternoon, David got up from his nap and went to the palace roof. As he walked about up there, he saw a woman having a bath. She was very beautiful. So he sent a messenger to find out who she was, and learnt that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David sent messengers to fetch her; they brought her to him and he made love to her. (She had just finished her monthly ritual of purification.) Then she went back home. Afterwards she discovered that she was pregnant and sent a message to David to tell him. 2 Samuel 11:1-5

The Bible goes on to tells us that the prophet Nathan went to David about his adultery with Bathsheba. In Psalm 51 we read how David confessed his sin to the Lord and received forgiveness. God gives the man who is in a relationship with him a new beginning, and he can feel joy again.

Perhaps you have discovered: That’s just like me! I am he! Remember that God is with you, too.

Prayer: Thank you Lord that despite my sin I can come to you and repent. Thank you for your gift of forgiveness. Father, thank you for the privilege of living in a relationship with you through your Son. Amen