Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23, NIV)
The subtlety of the game of golf can be deceiving. When I first met my husband, he told me he played golf, and I promptly told him I could beat him.
I wasn’t a golfer at the time, but I was a good athlete. I mean, how hard could this game be? He laughed and said he would buy me a new set of clubs once I beat him.
Needless to say, I quickly found out just how difficult this sport, of all sports, can be. Transferring a softball swing to a golf swing is not an easy transition.
The slightest millimeter off the club face at impact, or even the position of your grip, can send the ball 50 yards off target. Maybe that is precisely why an envisioned shot, perfectly executed, feels so rewarding.
But alas, this sport can be so unforgiving at times. One slight misstep and we miss out on a great score, or worse.
At the Masters in 1989, Scott Hoch missed a two-foot putt on the first playoff hole that would’ve won it for him. Instead, Nick Faldo won the next hole and the Masters.
The slightest misstep in our daily actions can lead to missing out on a great life. When Jesus said in the book of John, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”, He was not only talking about a life in Heaven with Him, but right here, right now.
Our missteps (or sins) separate us from that fellowship and from abundant life. When pride, shame, or guilt creeps into our hearts, we miss out on the peace, joy, and freedom He offers. The good news is that God is the great Mulligan-Giver.
When we find ourselves in the rough of life, let’s not hide or turn away from the very One who wants to free us from guilt or shame. Let’s turn and run immediately into His outstretched arms. Tell Him we need a mulligan, again.
A friend once said, “Imagine mercy as the ocean, and we dip a cup into it during a heavy downpour of rain”. That visualization helped me see that we cannot even begin to make a dent in the mercy our Father has for us.
There is absolutely nothing we can do to stop God’s outpouring of love, mercy, and forgiveness for His people. His compassion for us is not based on our merit. It stems from His character, which never changes.
Metaphorically speaking, when we hit our next drive into the hinterlands, let’s run to the Mulligan-Giver. He will lift our ball from the penalty area and set it on the Green. And we all know, “Happiness is a long walk with a putter” (Greg Norman).
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for having an endless supply of mercy and compassion for me when I need another mulligan in life. Help me turn to you, not hide from you.