How To Know When To Give Excuses for Christians

Last Updated on April 11, 2025 by Andrea

Excuses: The Beginning

I was sitting in the hard pew at church. The cushions were removed due to Covid. Only my family was sitting near me. Everyone else was more than 6 feet away. The pastor was talking way up front (I’m a rear-church sitter, please don’t judge me). I can’t tell you the songs we sang or the readings for the day.

So there we were, at the very beginning of 2021. Hard pew, few people, pastor way up front. And the pastor said something that was life-changing for me. As soon as I heard it, the implications for my sanity and my relationships swirled in my head. I didn’t hear anything else he said.

I went home and wrote it down in my Bible study journal. and decided that would be my focal thought for the year for study time. Time passed, and while I thought about it, its importance had paled a bit.

The Bible brings it back…

But recently God’s Word brought me right back to this insight.

John 2:13-22 NLT — It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

17Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”c

18But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”

19“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

20“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.John 2:13-22 NLT — It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

The Jewish leaders were confused. They thought Jesus meant the literal temple but He meant the temple of His body. It was only much later, after his resurrection, that they realized what He meant. I can just imagine that “aha” moment!

Here’s What Matters

My pastor in that sermon reminded us that Jesus didn’t make any excuses. He didn’t clear up the misunderstanding, instead he let time take care of it. He knew that in time the people would understand. Jesus didn’t offer a good excuse. He knew that God’s plan was best. God’s way would clear up what people didn’t understand. He took personal responsibility for his actions, but didn’t worry about what other people thought.

The good news is that there are a lot of times for us, too, that we don’t need to make excuses or clear up misunderstandings. Time can bring clarity for us, too. We can trust God to bring understanding to those that need it.

Let the spirit of the Lord guide you to know when to speak and when to be silent.

Trusting God in Times of Need

Trusting God is a central tenet of Christianity, offering believers a sense of peace and assurance even in the most challenging times. Christians can find comfort in knowing that God is always present, ready to provide aid and comfort when it is needed most. The Bible is filled with verses that encourage believers to turn to God in moments of distress, providing a solid foundation for unwavering faith.

Scriptural Foundations for Trusting God

The Word of God offer numerous passages that affirm God’s faithfulness and his readiness to help those who seek him. Knowing the Scriptures provides a great opportunity to understand God’s role in our lives, even when things aren’t going well. Among the most poignant is Proverbs 3:5-6:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

This verse emphasizes the importance of trusting God wholeheartedly and allowing his wisdom to guide one’s decisions. By not relying solely on human understanding, believers can find clarity and direction provided by God’s divine insight.

Another powerful verse is Isaiah 41:10:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

This declaration reassures Christians that they are never alone. God’s presence is a constant source of strength and support, eliminating fear and providing the necessary fortitude to overcome adversity.

Psalm 46:1 also offers profound encouragement:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Here, God is depicted as a sanctuary, a place of safety where believers can find solace. His assistance is always available, providing comfort and security whenever difficulties arise.

The Benefits of Trusting God

The act of trusting God yields numerous benefits that enrich a believer’s life. Firstly, it fosters a deep sense of peace. Philippians 4:6-7 states:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

By entrusting their worries to God, Christians can experience a peace that surpasses human comprehension, safeguarding their hearts and minds from anxiety.

Trusting God also cultivates resilience. In James 1:2-4, believers are encouraged to view trials as opportunities for growth:

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

The End of Excuses

This is a huge thought for me. Far too often I jump to my own defense…or my kids’ defense…or my husband’s…you get the idea. I’m ready to explain and then explain some more in an effort to get someone to see my point of view.

But why? Are excuses crucial? Do they need to understand? What would happen if I just let it ride? If I just let God take care of it

Letting go of the misunderstanding and taking hold of God helps our sanity because we no longer need to sit and stew.

We don’t need to spin with words to clear it up.

Rather, our mental health can rest in knowing that God has everything under control.

The Beginning of Healthy Relationships

For my relationships this means that I can stop trying to fix everything. I can let God be in control of the relationship, instead of trying to force my own control of the situation. In that time I can rest in relationship instead of struggle. My peace can bring peace to our relationship.

We don’t need to understand everything all the time to have good relationships. With God at the center of our relationships we can trust that He will take care of things in due time.

Certainly, there are times we need to explain a situation or clear up a misunderstanding. But now I’m working on praying first. So now I’m learning to be content in the misunderstandings, knowing that God understands all and will make it right in His time.

In Peace,

💜 Andrea

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