Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.
(2 Samuel 12:9 NIV)
King David had an adulterous affair with Bathsheba and then tried to cover it up by having her husband, Uriah, killed. The prophet Nathan then confronted King David with these piercing words found in Second Samuel.
Our Christian walk can sometimes seem like two steps forward and one step back. Setbacks are humbling. Yet humility is an essential component to spiritual maturity. Take heart. David, Elijah, and Peter all experienced spiritual setbacks. David gave in to lust. Elijah’s fear left him hopeless. Peter denied Christ when fear overwhelmed him. God understands our human frailties yet loves us.
Backsliding happens. It is a faith failure. It begins by doubting God’s promises and ends by stepping outside of His will. How do we return to God and resume our close relationship with Him?
Repentance is the first step. Then we recall the many blessings God has given us in the past, refocus our attention on God’s power, remember His promises, and resolve to trust God completely.