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Candid Admissions of Shortcomings and Mistakes |
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 "I make so many stupid, idiotic mistakes and blunders. But, thank God! Because I can only trust in Him to do anything." |
Although David inspired a great deal of
appreciation and admiration from his followers, he never failed to remind them that he was
just a man, and as such, fallible. He was acutely aware of his personal shortcomings and
faults and took the unusual step of telling his flock about them. He felt that this would
remind them that he was just a man, and that he needed their prayers and God's guidance in
order to carry on. With his usual honesty, he wrote: "I make so many stupid, idiotic mistakes and blunders, and I'm so weak and dumb. I have a terrible inferiority complex. I have very little self-confidence, thank God! -- Because I can only trust in Him to do anything." [157] "I would have to say to my enemies, like St. Dominic [did to his], 'Yes, you're right. I'm guilty of all of these things! In fact, I'm much worse than you even think. I'm terrible! But look at the Lord. Isn't He wonderful? In spite of me and what I'm like, look at the Lord. Look at my children and what the Lord's doing through them!'" [158] "I know I've committed plenty of [sins], made lots of mistakes, gross errors, misjudgments, and if anybody's made any mistakes, I certainly have! Although, thank God, I have done a few good things, as is manifest by the Family and millions of souls saved, thank the Lord!" [159] "I always sort of liked [the Apostle] Peter, kind of like I like King David -- they were both such bad guys, it always gives me a lot of hope for myself! They made so many mistakes, but that's one thing the Lord uses to help keep you humble." [160] "King David was always a great inspiration and comfort to me, because if such a big sinner could be forgiven such big sins, and the Lord still turned around and called him a man after His Own heart, then you know how great the Love and mercy of the Lord is." [161] "[King] David was far more righteous after he became a great sinner than he was when he was so haughty and self-righteous! One reason why I need to confess my sins and tell everybody about them is because it really helps keep me humble! It helps you to be honest with yourself and with others and with the Lord." [162] "If anything, my confessions have aroused more thanks and gratitude, and people have gone on raving and raving about some of the worst Letters I think I ever wrote, about some of the worst things I ever did! My defeats have encouraged them almost more than my successes! My failures and my defeats have been more encouraging to them in some ways than my victories, because it showed that I was also human and that I was just as fallible and just as weak and just as bad and had just as many problems as they had, but praise the Lord, I somehow made it anyhow. The Lord pulled me through anyway." [163] |
