I've been there and I know you have too...so mad that you slung your putter into the pond or buried the head of your eight iron in a fairway bunker!
We all lose it from time to time - even the pros. Over the weekend, golf fans witnessed the meltdown of Phil Mickelson during the third round of the US Open (also his 48th birthday).
Just like most of the other players in the afternoon group, Phil grew very frustrated with the course conditions. As the wind picked up and the greens dried out, both scores and frustrations began soaring.
On the 13th green, Phil found himself in the dreaded "no feel" zone and was going back and forth with the putter. He finally decided to hit the ball while rolling (a 2 stroke penalty) to stop it from going off the green.
Running toward and tapping a moving ball was very uncharacteristic for Phil, and some thought it was unprofessional and disrespectful to the other golfers and the USGA. After his questionable moment was replayed over and over on TV, he had to "come clean" and explain his actions.
Phil said, "I know it's a two-shot penalty, and at the time I just didn't feel like going back and forth and hitting the same shot over. I took the two-shot penalty and moved on...
"I don't mean it in any disrespect. And if that's the way people took it, I apologize to them, but that's not the way it was taken. I took the two-shot penalty, moved on, and there's not much more to say."
Phil realized there was a consequence for his action on the green, but did it anyway. In our own lives, we too can get caught up in the moment and allow our emotions, feelings, and frustrations to cause us to do something out of character.
We know there will be consequences, but we do it anyway because we convince ourselves we have to. However, when those moments get the best of us, it’s important to admit what we did and ask for forgiveness.
In the Bible when King David refused to confess his sin and tried to suppress his feelings of guilt, he paid a price both spiritually and physically:
“When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night Your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat” (Psalm 32:3-4 - NLT).
Only when King David faced his sin and sought God's forgiveness did his health return. In verse five he says, “Finally, I confessed all my sins to You and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, 'I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.' And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.”
We are all susceptible to sinning and "falling short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), but coming clean with a repentant heart ultimately leads to peace and joy.
There are penalties for our sin, but thankfully God’s grace covers us and allows us to move on...to the next hole. I’m Chris Bryant and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me make a habit of confessing and admitting when I'm wrong...and repenting and turning away from my sin. I ask that You'd give me a clean and cheerful heart that rests in Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Comments