Even the Mature Mess Up

*This devo goes along with our sermon series Faith - A Journey through Doubt, which can be watched here

Scripture: Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Sometimes, the fall hurts worse when it comes from someone you trusted to stand tall. That’s because we assume spiritual maturity equals immunity — but that’s never been true.

Pastor Cory reminded us: Even mature Christians mess up. Even those who love Jesus, serve faithfully, and know Scripture deeply are still human — vulnerable to temptation, anger, pride, and pain. The issue isn’t whether they (or we) will stumble. The issue is what happens next.

Proverbs 16:18 warns us plainly: pride sets the stage for collapse. It’s not sin alone that takes us down — it’s the refusal to admit we’re capable of it. When we stop guarding our hearts, when we believe we’ve “arrived,” we become ripe for failure.

Think of King David — a man after God’s own heart. Think of Peter — the rock who denied Christ. Their failures were real. Painful. Public. But what made their faith endure wasn’t perfection — it was repentance.

Mature faith isn’t mistake-free. It’s humble. It’s honest. And it’s quick to run to the grace of God instead of hiding behind a mask of spiritual pride.

So if you’ve fallen, don’t fake it. Don’t protect the image. Confess it. Receive mercy. Let God restore you and use your humility as a witness to others. And if someone else’s fall shook you, remember: maturity doesn't mean invincibility — it means knowing where to run when we fall.

Prayer: God, keep me humble. Help me never believe I’m above failure. Guard me from pride, and when I stumble, let me run to Your grace without delay. Teach me to walk humbly, love deeply, and lead honestly. Amen.