By: Elizabeth Louis
Have you ever done something so embarrassing, so cringe-worthy, that you wanted to kick yourself for it?
You didn’t sin—but you definitely didn’t act in wisdom.
You just wish there was an “Undo” button like on your laptop.
Yeah… that was me this past week.
I showed agape love, but I did it immaturely—like a puppy dog wagging its tail too hard.
Unfortunately, I pushed someone away.
My eagerness and impatience were too much.
While it hurt, it was also a good thing.
Because it’s not worth putting all this energy into someone if they really cannot handle you.
Again—I wasn’t mean or toxic… but I was immature.
I was overzealous, a bit inconsiderate, and I didn’t consider how they’d receive what I was trying to give.
I had a good heart… but bad timing.
And whew—did it sting.
And those kinds of moments?
They make it so easy to spiral.
You start thinking:
“I’m such an idiot.”
“I always screw things up.”
“What is wrong with me?”
You don’t just feel regret—you start rehearsing every embarrassing moment you’ve ever had like a horror highlight reel.
Shame gets loud. Guilt gets heavier.
And suddenly you’re buried under it.
But here’s the deeper layer most people miss:
When your soul gets attached to a specific outcome, it sets you up for disappointment.
Because the outcome your soul wants and the outcome God has may not be the same.
And when you cling too tightly to what you hoped would happen,
you start blaming yourself for how it turned out.
You start rewriting the moment in your mind, wondering how you could’ve controlled it, fixed it, or “done better.”
But that’s not trust—that’s torment.
True freedom is found in surrender.
Wanting God more than the outcome.
Trusting that even if your soul’s desires get disrupted, God’s plan will not.
And when you don’t detach, the guilt gremlin starts kicking your butt.
It drags you back to every other moment you “messed up,”
Every past disappointment, every failed attempt…
All to convince you that you’re the problem.
That spiral? That’s not just overthinking.
That’s spiritual warfare.
Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12 that we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of darkness.
And Revelation 12:10 calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren.”
That’s literally what he does—accuse you, twist truth, magnify failure, and make you agree with condemnation instead of standing in grace.
See, conviction comes from the Holy Spirit—it leads to repentance, peace, and real growth.
But condemnation comes from the enemy—it leads to shame, paralysis, and self-hatred.
So when those thoughts start flying, you have to recognize the source.
Because the more you agree with guilt,
the more you replay the moment,
the more you start beating yourself up for how you “should’ve known better,”
the more you partner with the very voice that’s trying to destroy you.
Especially if you’re hormonal? Forget it.
Now you’re crying, angry, anxious… and praying for Jesus to come back just so the shame will stop.
Here’s the truth:
Even when your delivery wasn’t perfect…
Even when your heart outran your discernment…
Even when your eagerness made a mess…
If your motive was love and your posture was obedience,
God saw that.
And He will correct you gently—not condemn you cruelly.
So don’t give guilt the microphone.
Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
None.
Not even for the immature moment.
Not even for the poorly timed message.
Not even for the overzealous love that made someone pull away.
Then God reminded me of something I always tell my clients:
At the time, you made the best decision with the variables you had.
If yes, great.
If no, still great.
Because either way—it’s a learning moment.
What you can’t do is judge your past decisions by variables you didn’t have at the time.
That’s not fair—and it’s not God.
Reflection sharpens discernment. Discernment sharpens character. And character builds wisdom.
So while my timing was terrible and my puppy dog energy needed to mature (which it absolutely has from this experience)…
I’d still rather make a mistake and be humbled than gain a win and become arrogant.
For me? I want to be as much like Christ as possible.
I also learned something else:
There’s a difference between a holy moment and holy timing.
And ironically, I already knew this—especially unconsciously.
But to keep in the good news…
To not share that a person had been chosen by the God of the universe…
To not speak on the future the Lord showed me for this person?
That was so hard to hold back.
And it was even harder to watch that person let “life” distract them from the one thing that could give them everything they wanted—without performance or drivenness.
(To be clear: this was specific to the individual and a prophetic word I received. I’m not saying God gives you everything your flesh wants—He gives you the true desires of your heart, the ones He planted.)
Just because something feels sacred doesn’t mean it’s time to share it.
God can give you a word—but if you deliver it too early, it can wound the very person He meant to bless.
And in my case? It did.
But I serve a God who redeems all things.
Even moments like this.
See, I’m not afraid of failure.
I’ll fall on my face, get back up, and try again.
But I do struggle with impatience.
I like to help.
I like to fix.
I like to be useful.
But that’s not always Christlike.
That’s performance-based worthiness.
That’s how I was raised:
“Pull your weight or get out.”
But in God’s Kingdom?
It’s not performance-based.
It’s promise-based.
God doesn’t need your help—He wants your heart.
He doesn’t need your timing—He wants your trust.
If you’re called… anointed… chosen…
Then you can rest.
You don’t have to hustle for what He already declared.
If you want to walk in your true potential—you need Jesus.
I know that sounds cliché. But hear me.
I’ve been doing executive coaching for 10 years.
I’ve worked with thousands of individuals.
And I can tell you right now:
The clients who know Jesus grow faster and deeper than the ones who don’t.
Why? Because psychology can only go so far.
At best, it brings behavior modification.
But the Holy Spirit?
He brings heart transformation.
And that’s what people are really craving.
I’m not talking about religion.
I’m talking about relationship.
That’s all Jesus wants.
I spend 3 to 4 hours every morning with God—not out of obligation, but because it’s the best part of my day.
Seriously—I love it.
I’ve grown more in personal, professional, emotional, and psychological development through the Word of God than I ever did in grad school—
And I have two psychology degrees.
If you’ve never given your life to Jesus, start now.
Just open your heart and say:
“Father God, I give You my life.
I believe in Your Son, Jesus Christ.
I believe He died for my sins and rose again.
Teach me how to walk with You.”
That simple moment can change everything.
📖 Want help walking this out?
Download my free devotional, Champion Christ Mindset.
It’s 15 days of bold, Bible-based mindset renewal—
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🔥 Final thought:
Listen… I’m not perfect.
You’re not perfect.
But God doesn’t call the perfect—
He perfects the called.
Give Him a year.
Go all in.
If nothing changes? Fine—recalibrate.
But what if everything changes?
What if this is the moment that finally breaks the cycle
and awakens the life you were always meant to live?
Don’t miss it. Choose Jesus.
