There is a difference between making a mistake and committing a sin.
Let me give you an illustration from family life. Children like to try to do things for themselves. A child trying to be helpful and pour her own milk may not always pay close attention to what she is doing and sometimes may spill the milk. That is an accident. She didn’t mean to, she didn’t plan to, she didn’t spend a long time resisting the urge to spill it, she didn’t in her mind say, “I know I am not supposed to spill this, but I just love to watch it puddle on the floor.”
When such an accident occurs, a parent patiently gets her a wet cloth and helps her clean up her mess so she can learn from the experience. Then together they try again and pour another glass of milk.
Another time a child may venture out into the yard without telling anyone. NOT AN ACCIDENT. Mom told him several times not to do that, warned of the dangers, and apprised him of the consequences. Yet he did it anyway. For that he is punished. He was again given the reasons why he should not go outside – warned of the dangers, and apprised of further consequences should he do it again. Mom doesn’t punish him because it’s fun to do so, but because she loves him and knows that he is not yet able to fend for himself outside alone. Parents punish to reinforce the dangers of willfully disobeying parents who have a child’s best interest at heart.
The difference . . . when milk spills, there is more where that came from, but if a child is harmed outside, there is only one of that particular precious child. With sin, the stakes are much higher.
If you have made some unwise choices, cut yourself some slack. Sure you may be reaping the unpleasant consequences of making mistakes, but God is not punishing you. He may be allowing you to remain in those consequences for a season to remind you of the need to be more careful and seek His wisdom next time, but it is not punishment for sin. Thank God that He is willing to clean up the mess with you and pour you another glass of milk so you can try again.
If you are under His chastisement because you have sinned – willfully disobeyed Him – then know also that the motive of His chastisement is love and the purpose of His chastisement is correction. He hasn’t abandoned you, but in love He is in the process of maturing you and preparing you to achieve His ultimate purpose for you – the image of Christ formed in you.
We grow spiritually when we deal with sin seriously and learn through mistakes. The two are different, but both can be stepping-stones to growth.