I blogged yesterday about an episode of insensitivity to a fellow coworker. This blog will be about how God handled that sin.

I had just become aware that I had verbally abused a lady from the HR department of my company. I felt the stabbing sense of shame crushing my chest. I walked out of the facility with my eyes glued to the floor. The thought went through my head that maybe I wasn’t good enough to start a Bible study. I mean, really, I was sure that God could choose someone who was consistently sweet. I live in the south and there are plenty of women down here that are high up on the sweetness scale.

As soon as I was in my car I repented to God. I felt horrible. A peace slowly seeped into my heart but I pushed it aside. I mean I had been downright rude and ugly. I was sure my boss was going to make it a topic of discussion at our next meeting. She never identifies exactly who has been rude when she mentions the rudeness of some the employees but I see her (my) invisible finger pointing straight at me.

I drove off to my next appointment and realized that my stomach was erupting in hunger. I looked around at the restaurants I could go to and spotted a Mexican restaurant. I usually avoid Mexican restaurants because I walk in being skinny and walk out being fat. I blame it on the chips. I gave myself a talking to and told myself that just because there was a basket of chips in front of me didn’t mean I had to eat the whole basket, and I walked right in being skinny.

I sat down at a table and ordered something from the light menu. I noticed that the host was sitting someone right beside me. I looked over. Both of my bosses were taking a table right next to me along with another young lady. I was mortified. I figured I may just as well confess over lunch and get my lecture over with.

I asked them if I could join them. My bosses happen to be my friends also, so they said, “Sure! Come on over.”

I slid into a chair and we started talking. My boss from Dallas looked at me and said. “I told the owner of the company that you were the only nurse who consistently got
your work done on time.”

I looked at her and replied. “That is a God thing. I had a revelation from the Holy Spirit many years ago because getting things done on time was a weakness of mine. Through the help of God, He made it into a strength. It was all God.” I admitted as I started to push shame aside.

We had our lunch and then I told them I needed to go to the office to fax my current car insurance information to the corporate office. While I was in the process of doing this I confessed my sin to my Dallas boss. She started laughing. She said that she had a problem understanding that lady also. I said, “But I told her her accent was offensive. Please tell her I am sorry.” She busted out in more laughter. Then I started laughing and the shame scampered away.

In Isaiah 61:7 The Word of God proclaims: “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

This is ours to claim if we confess our sins before Jesus and ask for His righteousness to cover our indiscretions. I think being able to laugh with my boss is the start of everlasting joy, I know that when we sin against others sometimes the hardest thing to do is accept the forgiveness that Jesus has so lovingly provided.

The icing on the cake of this experience happened a couple of days later. The director of my company gave me a beautiful book to journal in. She said, “It was for all of the hard work I did.” I looked at the book and it was begging to become a record of prayer requests for my Bible study. This confirmed to me that my desire to lead other women into a personal and intimate relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ, was within God’s purpose for my life. It doesn’t matter if I am not high up on the sweetness scale because it isn’t a bit about me, it is all about Him.