From Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
PSALM 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
Note that the psalm speaks of a “a good man” whose steps are sanctioned by heaven and pleasing to all. Yet even he (or she), as well as the habitual sinner, may have a moment of falling from safety and sure footing.
Surely a most encouraging truth in the gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the thought that any man fall—good or bad—“he shall not utterly be cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” That is the essence of the “good news” Jesus came to declare. Mistakes can be overcome, sins can be forgiven, death is not the victor and hell is not out destiny. Everything that Christ taught and that the prophets taught comes back to his truth that through desire and obedience all can be forgiven of sins. Everything that could have been can yet be—and more.
Sometimes we might think that we are the only one who has ever stumbled or fallen and might understandably ask, “How could this happen to me?” But only one man in all the history of this world was perfect. All others have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”108 However, just because that scripture reassures us that there is a lot of company in the circle of transgressors, this should never be an excuse to accept poor behavior or justify our sins. It should, rather, be encouraging to know that everyone—good or bad—is working to recover from some kind of shortcoming, and in such an effort there is divine help for everyone of us.
Fortunately, most of those “falls” are small missteps. But some can be very serious. Whether great or small, short- or long-term, the promise is nevertheless the same. If we are trying to be good—or if we are trying to be good again after a period when we weren’t those steps to recovery are “ordered by the Lord” and He does delight in our way. Nothing touches the deepest chamber of a parent’s heart more than a son or daughter’s effort to return to them and return to God. No parent can live with the thought that there is no hope, that his or her child is “utterly cast down,” with no helping hand to uphold.
Fortunately, as always in the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is a hand extended. It is never withdrawn. It is always there. ~Jeffrey R. Holland, For Times of Trouble (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2012) 82-83.
